Gunshots Erupted Near Niamey Airport

Thu Jun 18 2026 11:36:05 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Residents report gunfire at Niamey’s airport; the incident may be linked to Niger’s decade‑long Islamist insurgency.

At around 06:00 local time on Thursday, gunshots erupted near the northern entrance of Niamey’s airport, lasting for about an hour according to witnesses. The shots were accompanied by explosions reported by Reuters. Niger, a country grappling with Islamist insurgents for over a decade, experienced a similar attack in January that an Islamic State affiliate claimed. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the latest incident, and authorities have not commented, adding to the region’s turbulence. The event underscores the ongoing security challenges in Niger and the wider Sahel region.

Gunshots Erupted Near Niamey Airport

Reported at about 06:00 local time on Thursday, gunshots erupted near the northern entrance of Niamey’s airport, lasting roughly an hour, witnesses say.

The shots were accompanied by explosions, according to the Reuters news agency.

Niger has been embroiled in an Islamist insurgency for a decade, and the country’s airport was attacked in January, an affiliate of the Islamic State later claimed responsibility.

No group has yet claimed responsibility for Thursday’s incident, and authorities have not yet released statements, heightening uncertainty amid the region’s instability.