Planes hit by gunfire and blasts heard at airport in Nige...

What’s Happening

Breaking it down: Source says two aircraft on ground ‘destroyed’ although authorities yet to comment on situation Gunfire and loud blasts have been heard at the main airport in the Nigerien capital of Niamey, according to the Reuters news agency and an independent source.

A witness told Reuters they heard explosions just after midnight. The airport is next to Base Aérienne 101, a military base before used by a href=” A satellite image taken two weeks ago shows the military zone of Niamey airport in Niger. (shocking, we know)

Photograph: 2026 Planet Labs PBC/AFP/ View image in fullscreen A satellite image taken two weeks ago shows the military zone of Niamey airport in Niger.

The Details

Photograph: 2026 Planet Labs PBC/AFP/ Niger Planes hit blasts heard at airport in Niger capital – reports Source says two aircraft on ground ‘destroyed’ although authorities yet to comment on situation Eromo Egbejule West Africa correspondent Thu 29 Jan 2026 06. 50 EST First Thu 29 Jan 2026 05.

33 EST Gunfire and loud blasts have been heard at the main airport in the Nigerien capital of Niamey, according to the Reuters news agency and an independent source. A source with the Togolese airline Asky told the Guardian that gunshots made several holes in the fuselage of its two planes on the tarmac of Niamey airport.

Why This Matters

Staff were at their hotel at the time but remained stranded in the country. “They destroyed both aircraft … they left evidence at the scene,” the source dropped. Fofana Yacouba, a spokesman for Air Cóte d’Ivoire locked in that one of the Ivorian airline’s aircraft was also hit.

International observers are watching how this situation develops.

Key Takeaways

• “A communique is being prepared [about it],” he told the Guardian by telephone.
• It remains unclear who fired the shots or whether there were any casualties.
• Authorities in Niger have yet to comment on the situation.

The Bottom Line

There has been at least one successful coup and two flopped attempts in the region since then. The junta suspended the constitution and faced international condemnation and aid cuts.

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