Gunfire Heard Near Military Base In Niger Capital
Abidjan, Niger: Gunfire and explosions were heard on Saturday morning in Niger's capital, Niamey, including around a military base near the city's airport, which has been attacked twice this year.
Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain jihadist violence, which has blighted the west African country for around a decade.
The origins of Saturday's shooting were not immediately clear and authorities made no official comment.
"There is heavy gunfire and explosions at Base 101 in Niamey," one local resident told AFP, a report confirmed by several other witnesses.
The first shots were heard at about 1am local time (0000 GMT) and continued until daybreak, according to a video published by a local journalist filming the area around the airport.
Another resident in the west of Niamey said he heard sporadic small arms fire at about 5am.
Several social media posts also reported shooting and explosions in the city, particularly in the administrative area where the presidential palace and national television station are located.
Videos online showed armoured vehicles deployed to reinforce the neighbourhood near the airport.
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