Heavy gunfire and loud explosions were reported early on Thursday, 29 January 2026, near Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, a West African country in the Sahel region. Residents living close to the airport said the shooting started shortly after midnight and was followed by blasts that lit up the sky. Okay News reports that several videos filmed in the area showed streaks of light overhead, with repeated explosions in the background. They also reported hearing sirens as fire trucks moved in the direction of the airport in the early hours of the morning. Since the military takeover, Niger’s leaders have pushed out French and United States forces that had previously supported counterterrorism operations.