Niger: Gunfire and explosions heard in capital

Gunfire and explosions erupted across Niamey, Niger's capital, on Saturday morning, as reports emerged of attacks on key locations. Witnesses for Reuters described sustained gunfire and explosions in multiple parts of the city, though the motive remains unconfirmed. A security source claimed terrorists targeted Diori Hamani International Airport and made an attempt to breach the security perimeter surrounding the presidential palace.

Niger's parliamentarian and advisory council member, Bana Wajana Ibrahim, reported on Facebook that the assailants struck Base 101, a significant military installation near Niamey, but noted that security forces regained control. However, Reuters has yet to independently verify these accounts. Another unnamed security source indicated that security forces conducted searches and that some attackers were neutralized, while others managed to escape.

The second witness reported continuous heavy gunfire near the presidential palace. The first witness stated that the gunfire resumed near Niamey International Airport around 02:13 GMT. Niger has been under military rule since a July 2023 coup that removed President Mohamed Bazoum. Since then, the military government, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, has distanced itself from Western allies and formed stronger ties with Russia, following the precedent set by military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso.

The three Sahel nations have united in a security and political alliance since their military leaders seized power in a series of coups across the region. The alliance aims to combat insurgencies linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, despite the military governments' pledges to enhance security. The turmoil coincides with the military council's increasingly assertive stance over the uranium sector, as they seized assets from French company Orano last week.

The government reassigned uranium mining licenses from Orano and Goviex to state-owned firms, according to an official decree. Niger was once a major supplier of nuclear fuel to Europe, contributing approximately 15% of Orano's uranium supply at full capacity, before the military takeover in around 2024. This year has seen ongoing violent attacks in Niger, including the deaths of at least 44 civilians in March in the southwest and an assault near Niamey International Airport in January.