Gunfire and explosions erupted at the international airport in Niamey, Niger, shortly before midnight on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. According to two security sources, this incident was classified as a “terrorist attack.” By Thursday morning, calm had returned to the capital, and daily activities resumed, with businesses and schools operating normally.
A witness reported that while most of the city, home to approximately 1.5 million residents, was bustling, a cordoned-off area near the airport remained heavily monitored by defense and security personnel. The heightened security response followed an internal alert regarding a potential attack on the airport, prompting authorities to reinforce their presence in the area.
Security sources confirmed that a stockpile of uranium yellowcake, estimated at around 1,000 metric tons, which had been transported from the Somair mine in Arlit to the airport for export, was not affected during the attack. This uranium was moved late last year after Nigerien authorities seized control of the mine from the French nuclear group Orano.
The heavy gunfire commenced shortly before midnight and persisted for over an hour. A video circulating on the social media platform X appeared to depict the Niamey skyline illuminated by flashes of gunfire, though Reuters has not independently verified this footage.
As of Thursday, a reinforced security presence was noticeable along the major roads leading to the airport, indicating ongoing concerns about safety in the area. A spokesperson for Niger’s military government, which came to power following a coup in July 2023, was unavailable for immediate comment regarding the attack.
Niger, like its Sahel neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has been grappling with violent assaults from jihadist groups, which have resulted in thousands of deaths and millions of displaced individuals across the region. In a related incident, a US missionary was kidnapped in Niamey in October, prompting the United States to advise against travel to Niger. Last year, multiple kidnappings involving foreign nationals, including five Indian citizens, a Swiss citizen, and an Austrian citizen, were reported in more remote areas of the country.
As security forces continue to assess the situation, the local population remains vigilant, aware of the potential for further unrest in the region. The ongoing threat posed by extremist groups poses significant challenges for both the government and citizens of Niger, as they navigate a landscape marked by instability and violence.
