Niger junta claims control after soldiers’ mutiny rocks Niamey

The military junta in Niger has claimed to have regained control of key locations in the capital, Niamey, following hours of heavy gunfire and clashes involving mutinying soldiers.

The fighting, which began shortly after midnight on Saturday, reportedly saw armed soldiers block access to the presidential palace and the national television station, Tele Sahel, which temporarily went off the air.

The junta later said security forces had contained the situation and gradually restored control over the affected areas.

Niger’s Defence Minister, General Salifou Mody, said a group of soldiers had taken some personnel hostage at a barracks in Niamey before opening fire at what he described as sensitive locations in the city.

“The prompt reaction of the defence and security forces made it possible to contain this heated moment, and they gradually took back control of these sites,” Mody said in a statement broadcast on state television.

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He urged residents to remain calm and continue with their normal activities.

However, regional and diplomatic security sources indicated that mutinying soldiers were still holding at least two barracks around Niamey later on Saturday, including a facility at Air Force Base 101 near the capital’s international airport.

Residents reported hearing heavy gunfire and explosions in parts of the city from the early hours of Saturday, with one resident describing sustained exchanges around the military base.

Videos circulating online also showed armoured vehicles deployed around neighbourhoods close to the airport.

The military had earlier appealed to residents to remain calm and avoid spreading unverified information, saying defence and security forces had been mobilised to protect the country.

By Saturday morning, however, the intensity of the fighting had reportedly reduced, with residents near the presidential palace saying the gunfire had stopped.

The development comes three years after Niger was taken over by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, which has faced persistent security challenges from jihadist groups operating across the country.

Niger’s security situation has remained particularly fragile around the capital and other areas bordering the Sahel, with militant groups linked to the Islamic State and al-Qaeda continuing to carry out attacks against military and civilian targets.

The international airport in Niamey itself has been targeted twice this year. An Islamic State-linked group attacked the facility in January, while the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) launched another attack in June.

Authorities said the January attack left four soldiers wounded and resulted in the deaths of 20 attackers. The June assault reportedly killed at least 11 soldiers and two civilians, while 22 attackers were also killed.

The latest clashes have therefore raised fresh concerns about stability within Niger’s military establishment, particularly as the junta continues to confront armed insurgencies while consolidating its political control.

Supporters of General Tiani also called on residents to demonstrate in support of the authorities at a major square in Niamey. By late afternoon, dozens of people had gathered at the location, where military music praising the junta leader was played as a platform was prepared for speeches.

Neighbouring Algeria condemned the latest developments and expressed support for the Nigerien government.

Niger, together with Burkina Faso and Mali, is governed by military authorities that came to power through coups and have distanced themselves from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and several traditional Western security partners.

The three countries have instead strengthened their security and political cooperation and developed closer relations with Russia.

Air Force Base 101, where some of the reported clashes occurred, is considered a strategically sensitive military facility. It houses the headquarters of Russia’s Africa Corps in Niamey and serves as a command centre for the joint force of the Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.

The latest development has added another layer of uncertainty to Niger’s already complex security and political situation, even as the junta insists that government forces have restored order in the capital.

(Channels TV)