Niamey woke up to gunfire on Saturday, August 29, 2026. Since around 1 am, automatic weapon fire and explosions have been heard in several strategic areas of the Nigerien capital. The fighting is concentrated around the Diori-Hamani International Airport and the 101 Air Base, but shots have also been reported in the area of the presidential palace.
According to a security source quoted by Reuters, attackers described as “terrorists” have attacked the airport and attempted to breach the security perimeter of the presidency. Another source claims that some attackers have been neutralized and others have fled. However, these reports have not yet been independently confirmed.
The situation remains unclear. Saturday morning, after 7 am, gunfire was still heard around the 101 base. At 9 am, Télé Sahel, the public television, displayed a black screen, while access to the presidency and the national television headquarters was blocked by military personnel. The regime has called for calm and indicated that defense and security forces are mobilized.
The scale of the events is striking. Unlike the attacks in January and June 2026, focused on the airport complex, the gunfire of this night has targeted or affected several strategic points in Niamey, including the presidential area. The exact origin of the operation remains unknown and no claim has been established at this time.
For General Abdourahamane Tiani, who came to power through the July 2023 coup, this new attack occurs at the very heart of the regime’s security apparatus. The 101 base houses the headquarters of Russian partners of Africa Corps and the headquarters of the unified force of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
