Gunfire Erupts in Niger's Presidential Palace and Airport

On Saturday, Niger's presidential guard successfully repelled insurgents from within the armed forces who attempted to enter the presidential palace in Niamey. Heavy gunfire was reported in various neighborhoods of the capital throughout Friday night, particularly near the presidential palace and the airport area, which houses a significant military base.

Security sources confirmed the situation to AFP, noting that the state television signal was interrupted for over an hour before resuming at approximately 10:00 am (0900 GMT). A resident reported hearing bursts of gunfire around 7:00 am local time, while another noted sporadic small arms fire at about 5:00 am.

Social media posts corroborated reports of shooting and explosions, especially in the administrative area where the presidential palace and national television station are located. Niger has been under military junta rule for three years, facing ongoing jihadist violence that has plagued the country for nearly a decade.