Gunfire and loud explosions were heard at Niamey's main airport just after midnight, Reuters and an independent source reported. The airport is next to Base Aérienne 101, a military base once used by American and Russian forces. A source from the Togolese airline Asky told the Guardian that gunshots made several holes in the bodies of two planes parked on the tarmac. The airline staff were at their hotel but remain stuck in Niger. “They destroyed both aircraft … they left evidence at the scene,” the source said. No official statements from Nigerien authorities have been made. Since July 2023, Niger has been under military rule after Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani and the presidential guard ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. This was the seventh successful coup in West and Central Africa over three years. The junta suspended the constitution and faced sanctions and aid cuts from the international community. Niger left the regional bloc ECOWAS with Mali and Burkina Faso to form the Alliance of Sahel States. It also expelled French and US forces, shifting its alliances. Niger continues to struggle with jihadist violence linked to Islamic State and al-Qaida groups, especially near borders with Mali and Burkina Faso. Security has worsened despite promises from the junta. According to the Global Terrorism Index 2025, Niger saw the highest global rise in terrorism deaths in 2024—an alarming 94% increase to 930 deaths, marking the worst record for the country since the index began.