Niamey, Niger – Explosions and sustained gunfire were reported early Monday at the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niger’s capital, with multiple commercial aircraft sustaining significant damage, according to eyewitness accounts and airline officials.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight local time. The airport is adjacent to a major military installation, Air Base 101, which has housed foreign troops in the past. Initial reports indicate that at least three commercial aircraft on the tarmac were struck by gunfire.
A representative for the regional carrier Asky stated that two of its aircraft were “destroyed” in the attack, with their fuselages riddled with bullet holes. The airline’s crew, unharmed but currently unable to depart, were not onboard at the time. Separately, an official from Air Côte d’Ivoire confirmed one of its planes was also hit, with a formal statement forthcoming.
No group has claimed responsibility for the assault, and the identity of the attackers remains unknown. There has been no immediate confirmation of casualties. Nigerien authorities have not issued a public comment on the situation.
The attack underscores the persistent and worsening security challenges facing the nation. Since a military junta seized power in a July 2023 coup, Niger has experienced a significant escalation in violence. The ruling council expelled French and American military forces and, alongside neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso—both also under military rule—withdrew from the West African regional bloc to form a new alliance.
Despite government pledges to improve security, jihadist insurgencies linked to Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliates remain active, particularly in the volatile border region shared with Mali and Burkina Faso. Recent global assessments note a sharp increase in terrorism-related fatalities in Niger during the past year, marking one of the most severe deteriorations in security worldwide.