Panic as gunfire erupts Niger Republic’s international airport

Fresh security concerns emerged in Niger Republic on Thursday after gunfire erupted around the Diori Hamani International Airport in the capital, Niamey.

Witnesses said the shooting began in the early hours of the day near the airport’s entrance, with some residents reporting that the gunfire continued for several hours.

According to local accounts, the incident occurred around a security checkpoint leading to the airport, prompting the deployment of a significant military presence to the area.

The development comes barely five months after the airport and a nearby military drone base came under attack in January in an assault claimed by the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS).

At the time, Nigerien security forces, supported by Russian allies, repelled the attack, killing several assailants and preventing what authorities described as an attempt to cripple the country’s air capabilities.

Since seizing power in a July 2023 coup, the military-led government has faced persistent security challenges linked to jihadist groups operating across the Sahel region.

In response to growing threats, authorities have intensified security measures around the airport, including the expansion of the perimeter fence and installation of hundreds of surveillance cameras.

The government has also demolished thousands of structures around the airport, claiming the settlements had been infiltrated by armed groups.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the latest gunfire incident or confirm whether there were casualties.

Niger, alongside neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, continues to grapple with insurgent violence despite ongoing military operations and new security partnerships outside traditional Western alliances.