Gunfire heard at Niger capital's airport

Gunfire erupted at the airport in Niger's capital, Niamey, on Thursday morning, according to residents. The sounds of explosions and shooting began around 6:00 AM local time. One witness described hearing the first gunshots while at a mosque, noting that the situation was later under control.

The gunfire, which lasted for two hours, originated from the airport's entrance, another witness told AFP. This incident follows a previous attack on the same airport in January, which was attributed to suspected jihadists. Niger, along with its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, is currently governed by a military junta that rose to power partly due to its perceived failure to address ongoing violence.

Residents reported that the army successfully repelled Thursday's attack. The military is now reportedly pursuing the fleeing assailants, who allegedly abandoned their weapons. As of the report, authorities had not issued an official statement, and no group had claimed responsibility for the assault. An affiliate of the Islamic State group had previously claimed the January attack.

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I heard the first gunshots at 06:00 (05:00 local time) while I was at the mosque. But the current situation is under control.