Sustained gunfire, loud blasts heard in Niger’s capital
A video shared on social media platform X appeared to show gunfire lighting up the night sky over the city
Sustained gunfire and loud explosions were heard early today (29 January) near Niamey International Airport in Niger's capital, according to a Reuters witness.
The heavy gunfire began nearly an hour earlier and was still ongoing as of 12:12am GMT, the witness said.
A video shared on social media platform X appeared to show gunfire lighting up the night sky over the city, although Reuters could not independently verify the footage.
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A spokesperson for Niger's military-led government, which seized power in a coup in July 2023, was not immediately available for comment.
Niger, a Sahelian West African nation, has faced persistent security challenges in recent years. Like neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso, it has struggled to contain attacks by jihadist groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State, which have killed thousands of people and displaced millions across the three countries.
