Niamey Under Fire: Heavy Gunshots, Explosions Trigger Fresh Security Scare
By FRANKLIN FRANCIS FREY
HEAVY gunshots and explosions rocked parts of Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, early Saturday.
The attack reportedly lasted about two hours. It targeted the airport and a security perimeter close to the presidential complex.
Reuters reported the incident, which marks the third major security-related episode of its kind in Niger this year.
Earlier attacks had targeted parts of Niamey, including the international airport.
Bana Ibrahim, a member of Niger’s Bureau of the Consultative Council, confirmed the latest incident in a Facebook post.
He said the attack targeted Base 101 and praised the country’s defence and security forces for responding to it.
Ibrahim also said the situation was under control.
However, witnesses told Reuters that gunfire and explosions continued even after his post.
Authorities had yet to provide a detailed account of the incident as of the time of the report.
The identity of the attackers also remained unclear.
Some analysts linked the assault to jihadist groups operating across the Sahel. Others raised the possibility of an attempted coup or an internal dispute within the military establishment.
Niger faces persistent threats from jihadist organisations, including Islamic State and al-Qaeda-linked groups operating across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.
At the same time, the country has remained politically unstable since the military seized power in July 2023.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani led the coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum from office. The junta subsequently detained Bazoum and consolidated its hold on power.
Since then, the military government has faced continuing militant attacks and a major diplomatic confrontation with the Economic Community of West African States.
The latest incident has therefore raised questions about whether Niger is facing another jihadist assault or a new threat from within the military establishment.
Wasim Nasir, a French journalist who covers violence in the Sahel, suggested on X that the incident could represent a coup attempt or an internal settling of scores among military personnel.
Conflict researcher Hasret Kargin, however, cautioned against drawing conclusions without further evidence.
“There is currently no information on whether the attack was carried out by jihadists or was an attempted coup,” Kargin said.
He added that rebel groups could also be among the possible perpetrators.
With no group claiming responsibility, the motive remains uncertain.
For now, the attack adds to the growing security challenges confronting Niger’s military government and raises fresh concerns about the stability of the capital.
