Sustained gunfire and loud explosions were heard early on Thursday near Niamey’s international airport in Niger, a witness told Reuters.

The witness said heavy shooting was still ongoing by 0012 GMT, after starting about an hour earlier.

A video posted on social media platform X showed what appeared to be the city’s skyline at night, with flashes of weapons fire visible in the area.

There was no immediate comment from Niger’s military government, which seized power in a coup in July 2023.