The fragile peace in Niger has shattered once again. Heavy gunfire and loud explosions erupted at the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey on Thursday, signaling a dangerous escalation in the instability plaguing the junta-led nation. Commercial aviation has now become a casualty of the conflict, with two aircraft reportedly destroyed on the tarmac.

Witnesses near the airport, which shares a runway with the strategic Base Aérienne 101, described a war zone. "We heard explosions just after midnight," a local resident told reporters. "The sky was lit up with tracers. It went on for hours."

Planes in the Crossfire

Sources confirm that two aircraft belonging to Togolese airline Asky were caught in the crossfire. "They destroyed both aircraft," an airline source revealed. "The fuselage is riddled with bullet holes. It is a miracle no passengers were on board." The crew, stranded at a nearby hotel, are now trapped in a city on edge.

• Junta Under Pressure: Since the coup in July 2023 that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, the military government has struggled to contain a rising tide of jihadist violence. This attack, striking at the heart of the capital's transport hub, is a humiliating blow to their claim of restoring security.
• The Suspects: While no group has claimed responsibility, the attack bears the hallmarks of the relentless insurgency waged by affiliates of Al-Qaeda and Islamic State in the Sahel.

A Region in Flames

The attack on the airport is not just a local security breach; it is a message. It says that nowhere in Niger is safe, not even the heavily guarded gateways to the outside world. As the junta remains silent, the people of Niamey are left to wonder if this is the start of a new, bloodier chapter in their country's history.