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The United States has ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Niger due to security risks, following reports of loud explosions and sustained gunfire near Niamey’s international airport.
The order was issued on January 30, according to the U.S. Department of State.
In a post on X on Friday, the State Department said it could no longer provide routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens outside the capital, Niamey, because of safety concerns.
The department warned Americans not to travel to Niger “for any reason”.
“The Department of State ordered non-emergency government employees and their family members to leave Niger on January 30 due to safety risks,” the statement said.
“The U.S. government cannot offer routine or emergency services to U.S. citizens outside of Niamey due to safety risks. Do not travel to Niger for any reason.”
On its website, the department said U.S. government employees remaining in Niger must “travel in armoured vehicles for all movements” and observe a mandatory curfew.
“All restaurants and open-air markets are off-limits to U.S. government employees working in Niger,” it said, adding that U.S. citizens are advised to take the same precautions.
The order followed reports of loud explosions and continuous gunfire early Thursday near Niamey’s international airport.
A witness told Reuters that the gunfire began nearly an hour earlier and was still ongoing as of 0012 GMT.
Videos posted on X appeared to show flashes of light over the city’s night skyline, accompanied by loud blasts. Other images showed flames and burnt vehicles several metres high.
Later, SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors jihadist activity and communications globally, said in a statement on Friday that the Islamic State was responsible for the attack.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, condemned the attacks and expressed “profound sadness” over a separate attack on January 18 in the village of Bosiye in western Niger, which killed about 30 civilians.
“These heinous acts form part of the campaign of terror conducted by violent extremist groups deliberately targeting civilian populations and public infrastructure,” he said.
Youssouf praised the “swift and effective response” of Nigerien security forces, which he said helped contain the airport attack.
