NIGER: Alleged Coup Attempt: Panic as Gunshots and Explosions Rock Niger Republic Airport and Presidential Palace
Sustained gunshots and heavy explosions were heard in parts of Niamey, the capital of Niger Republic, early Saturday, with the attack reportedly targeting an airport and security installations near the presidency.
According to Reuters, the incident lasted for about two hours. Bana Ibrahim, a member of Niger’s Bureau of the Consultative Council, announced the attack on Facebook, saying the country’s defence and security forces had responded and that the situation was under control.
However, witnesses reportedly said the attack continued even after his statement.
The identity of the attackers and their motive remain unclear. While some analysts believe the incident could be another attack by jihadist groups operating in the Sahel, others have raised the possibility of an attempted coup or an internal dispute among military personnel.
French journalist Wassim Nasr suggested that the incident was likely linked to a possible coup or a dispute within the military, while conflict researcher Hasret Dikmen said there was not enough information to determine whether jihadists or coup plotters were responsible.
Niger has continued to face attacks from jihadist groups linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliates since the military seized power in 2023. The government had not issued any further official statement on Saturday’s incident as of the time of this report