Niger’s presidential guard on Saturday fought off an attempted incursion by insurgents from within the country’s own armed forces, who tried to storm the presidential palace in Niamey as gunfire rang out across the capital.
Heavy gunfire was reported in several parts of the city throughout Friday night, most notably near the presidential palace in the city centre. Security sources also told AFP that shooting broke out around the airport area, home to a major military base.
State television went off air for just over an hour before signal was restored around 10:00 am (0900 GMT).
One Niamey resident said he heard bursts of gunfire at about 7:00 am while out to buy phone credit. He described seeing a military vehicle attempt to head toward the base before turning back, adding that the sound of the gunfire suggested heavier weaponry than what is typically used by motorbike-riding terrorist cells. He said the fighting had continued without pause since the previous night.
Another resident in western Niamey reported hearing sporadic small arms fire around 5:00 am, while numerous social media posts described gunfire and explosions concentrated in the administrative district, where both the presidential palace and the national television headquarters are located.
Niger has been under military rule for three years, a junta that has continued to grapple with jihadist violence that has plagued the West African nation for roughly a decade.
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