Gunfire erupts at Niamey airport amid Sahel unrest

Thu Jun 18 2026 10:30:33 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Residents report gunfire and explosions at Niger’s capital airport in the early hours, part of ongoing Islamist insurgency.

Gunfire emanated from the entrance of the international airport in Niamey around 06:00 local time on Thursday, lasting for about an hour. Witnesses and Reuters mention accompanying explosions. Niger, a country beset by insurgency for the past decade, has seen similar attacks on its airspace, notably in January, which an Islamic State affiliate claimed. The military junta that governs Niger, like its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, is a response to prolonged insecurity.

Gunfire erupts at Niamey airport amid Sahel unrest

Residents in Niamey, Niger’s capital, heard gunfire coming from the entrance to the international airport early on Thursday morning. Witnesses described the noises as sustained shots that clanged for approximately an hour.

The incident began around 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT) and was reported by the Reuters news agency, which also noted accompanying explosions.

Niger has been fighting a militant Islamist insurgency for a decade, and January saw a suspected jihadist assault on the same airport. An affiliate group of the Islamic State claimed responsibility for that January attack, though no group has announced responsibility for the current gunfire.

The country’s military junta, installed in part to counter escalating violence, is part of a broader Sahel trend, sharing governance models with Burkina Faso and Mali. Officials have yet to issue a statement on the new incident, leaving observers uncertain about possible actors.