Gunfire and explosions echo at Niamey airport amid ongoing Niger insurgency

Residents in Niger’s capital Niamey heard gunfire erupt from the entrance of the city’s main airport around 06:00 local time (05:00 GMT). The shots continued for an hour, followed by reports of explosions.

The flare of violence follows a January assault on the same airport, for which an Islamic State affiliate admitted responsibility. No official claim has been made regarding Thursday’s attack, and Niger’s authorities have not yet responded.

Since the late 2010s Niger has been grappling with a militant Islamist insurgency that has extended through neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso. The regional security situation intensified after a military junta seized power in Niger during a coup partly aimed at restoring order. The new leadership remains under pressure to curb the growing violence.

Image credit: BBC. The visual evidence of the incident comes from an aerial view of the airport during the attack, captured by an international news service.