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03:15

Dense gunfire and powerful explosions were heard in the area of the Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, in the early hours on Thursday.

Residents near the airport said the gunfire and explosions began shortly "after midnight" (around 2300 GMT) and lasted for about two hours.

The situation has since returned to calm, with all military camps in Niamey placed on alert.

Government authorities and airport management have yet to issue an official statement on the incident, and there has been no official confirmation of casualties.

Diori Hamani International Airport is located about 10 kilometres from Niger’s presidential palace. The airport hosts a Nigerien Air Force base, a newly built drone facility, and the headquarters of a joint force formed by Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali to combat jihadist groups.

Niger, a major global producer and exporter of uranium, also stores large quantities of uranium ore at the airport, where it is held pending export.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency

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Gunfire, explosions heard near airport in Niger's capital