RismadarVoice Reporters, January 29, 2026
Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported in the early hours of Thursday near Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, before calm was restored within a few hours, residents have said.
Eyewitnesses said the shooting began shortly after midnight in neighbourhoods close to the airport, which also hosts an air force base and is located about 10 kilometres from the presidential palace. Calm reportedly returned about two hours later.
Residents also reported hearing sirens from fire service vehicles moving towards the airport area in the early hours of the morning.
The cause of the incident and whether there were any casualties remained unclear as of the time of reporting.
Videos circulating on social media showed flashes of light in the sky and fires burning near the area, though authorities have yet to issue an official statement.
Niger has faced persistent security challenges from jihadist groups and has been under military rule since General Abdourahamane Tiani led a coup that ousted the country’s elected civilian government in 2023.
The international airport also serves as the headquarters of a joint military force formed by Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali to combat militant groups operating across the Sahel region.
Since assuming power, Niger’s military authorities have expelled French and United States forces previously engaged in counterterrorism operations.
Alongside its neighbours, Niger has formed the Alliance of Sahel States, which recently announced plans to deploy a 5,000-strong joint force.
According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), nearly 2,000 people were killed by jihadist violence in Niger, in 2025.
