Niamey residents recount fear after overnight gunfire
Residents of Niger's capital have described a night of fear and confusion after gunfire and explosions were heard near a military airbase and other strategic sites in Niamey early on Saturday.
Amadou Soumera, who lives near the airport, said the shooting began around midnight, forcing his family to seek cover. "Together with the children and the rest of the family, we had to run into our rooms, and at that moment we did not understand exactly what was happening," he said.
Another resident, Chamsiya Idrissa, said explosions continued through the night and were powerful enough to shake homes. Others said they were still waiting for official clarification about what had happened.
Defence Minister General Salifou Mody said a group of soldiers attempted to detain fellow officers at Diori Hamani International Airport, home to the key military airbase known as Base 101, before opening fire on "strategic locations" across the city.
The incident briefly disrupted radio and television transmissions, which the Nigerien Press Agency said resumed at around 10:00 local time. Mody said security forces had contained the unrest and gradually regained control of the affected sites, although sporadic gunfire continued.
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The incident poses a challenge to Niger's military-led government under General Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power after President Mohamed Bazoum was removed in July 2023.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
