Conflict & Security
Niger national TV cut after Niamey gunfire
Niger's national television was off air on Saturday after overnight heavy gunfire in parts of Niamey, including around a military base near the capital's airport.
The origin of the shooting was not immediately clear. Niger's military said defence and security forces had been mobilised and urged people to stay calm and avoid sharing unverified information.
At 9:00 am local time, a black screen had replaced Tele Sahel's programming by satellite and online. Residents said soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and national television.
One resident told AFP there had been heavy gunfire and explosions at Base 101, an account AFP said was confirmed by several other witnesses. A local journalist's video from the airport area said the first shots were heard at about 1:00 am local time and continued until daybreak.
Another resident said he heard bursts of gunfire at about 7:00 am and saw a military vehicle heading toward the base turn back. A resident in western Niamey reported sporadic small-arms fire at about 5:00 am.
Several social media posts also reported shooting and explosions in Niamey, particularly in the administrative area where the presidential palace and national television station are located. Online videos showed armoured vehicles deployed near the airport.
Air Force Base 101 is inside the international airport complex. AFP reported that it houses the headquarters of Niamey's Russian Africa Corps partners and the command of the unified force of the Alliance of Sahel States, whose members are Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.
The base is a sensitive site. Between December and January, it hosted a large shipment of uranium concentrate that was held up while awaiting export, and no movement of the shipment has been identified since.
Niamey airport has been targeted twice this year by jihadist groups. Authorities said 20 assailants were killed and four soldiers wounded in a January attack by the Islamic State in the Sahel. Niger's defence ministry said at least 11 soldiers and two civilians were killed in a late June attack by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, along with 22 attackers. Both attacks were repelled by the army.
Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power after a July 2023 coup.
Update
Air Force Base 101 is described as a sensitive site that hosted a large shipment of uranium concentrate between December and January while it awaited export.
No movement of that uranium shipment has been identified since, according to the supplied account.
The item adds context that Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali left ECOWAS, moved away from Western security partners and sought closer ties with Russia.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 08:45:55 UTC.
Update
At 9:00 am local time, Tele Sahel programming had been replaced by a black screen via satellite and online.
Residents told AFP that soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and national television.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 08:10:55 UTC.
Update
Local residents told AFP that Niger's national television was cut after overnight gunfire in Niamey.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 08:04:29 UTC.
Update
Niger's military urged people to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information in light of the events.
The military said defence and security forces had been mobilised.
A resident said he heard bursts of gunfire at about 7:00 am local time and saw a military vehicle turn back while heading toward the base.
The resident said the fighting had been non-stop since the previous night and that the weapons heard were not the kind carried by terrorists on motorbikes.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 07:43:59 UTC.
Update
The first shots were heard at about 1:00 am local time and continued until daybreak, according to a video published by a local journalist filming near the airport.
Another resident in western Niamey reported sporadic small-arms fire at about 5:00 am.
Air Force Base 101 is described as housing the headquarters of Niamey's Russian Africa Corps partners and the command of the Alliance of Sahel States unified force.
The site hosted a large shipment of uranium concentrate between December and January while it awaited export, with no movement of the shipment identified since.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 06:58:23 UTC.
Update
Several social media posts reported shooting and explosions in Niamey, including in the administrative area where the presidential palace and national television station are located.
Online videos showed armoured vehicles deployed to reinforce the neighbourhood near the airport.
The origin of the gunfire remained unknown and no official communication had been issued.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 04:19:44 UTC.
Update
Niamey airport was targeted twice earlier this year by jihadist groups.
The Islamic State in the Sahel attacked the airport in January, and JNIM attacked it in late June, according to the supplied account.
Authorities said 20 assailants were killed and four soldiers wounded in the January assault.
Niger's defence ministry said at least 11 soldiers, two civilians and 22 attackers were killed in the June attack.
Niger's military leader Abdourahamane Tiani said after the January attack that a flaw in the system had enabled it.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 03:36:55 UTC.
Update
Witnesses reported gunfire and explosions at Base 101 in Niamey.
AFP said several other witnesses confirmed the resident's account.
The military base at Niamey's international airport had been attacked twice this year by jihadists.
Source note: AFP news report published on 29 August 2026 at 03:10:11 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The origin of Saturday's shooting was not immediately clear.
No responsibility for the gunfire was established in the supplied information.
The supplied information does not establish whether Saturday's events were connected to previous jihadist attacks on Niamey airport.
The current status and location of the uranium shipment are not fully established beyond the statement that no movement has been identified since it was held up.
Source
AFP news report published on .