Gunfire and explosions reported near Niger's Niamey airport

Gunfire and explosions erupted early Thursday near Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger's capital Niamey, according to residents and security sources. The incident marked a renewed security threat at one of the country's most critical installations.

Witnesses reported the first bursts of gunfire around 6:00 a.m. local time (0500 GMT), with shooting continuing intermittently for nearly two hours. The sounds originated near the airport entrance and adjoining military facilities. One resident told AFP: "I heard the first shots around 6 o'clock. The shooting was coming from the airport entrance," and confirmed that gunfire persisted into the late morning. Security forces subsequently sealed off the area.

At the time of reporting, authorities had not issued a formal statement regarding the incident, and no group had claimed responsibility. However, the airport has a recent history of militant attacks. In January, Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) claimed responsibility for an assault on the facility, targeting air command infrastructure and drone assets, which Nigerien authorities said was repelled by government forces with support from allied troops.

Following the January attack, authorities demolished thousands of informal structures in surrounding neighborhoods, citing concerns that the area had been infiltrated by militants staging operations. Further details on Thursday's incident remained unavailable at the time of reporting, with officials yet to confirm the extent of any damage or casualties.