Heavy gunfire and loud explosions rang out during the night of January 28-29 near Niamey's Diori Hamani International Airport, before calm gradually returned. According to several residents, the shooting began shortly after midnight and continued for nearly two hours. Around 2:00 a.m., the situation appeared to have stabilized, although residents still reported considerable unrest.
Images circulating on social media show bright streaks in the sky, suggesting an air defense operation, possibly targeting drones. Other videos, not independently verified, show significant flames and burning vehicles. Emergency sirens were also reportedly heard in the area, suggesting a response from firefighters and security forces.
A strategic and heavily militarized zone
Niamey airport's role extends beyond civilian use: it also hosts a Nigerien air force base, a recently constructed drone base, and the headquarters of the Joint Force established by Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso to combat jihadist groups. A specialized OSINT analysis account also reports that a commercial flight from Algiers, expected overnight, was diverted to Burkina Faso.
In a particularly tense context, a large shipment of uranium is reportedly currently stored in the airport area, awaiting export, amid tensions surrounding mineral resources. At the same time, Niger remains fragile due to insecurity: jihadist violence has claimed nearly 2,000 lives by 2025, according to the NGO ACLED, while the southeast of the country continues to suffer attacks from Boko Haram and ISWAP.
