Niger's Defense Ministry Says Soldiers Attempted Mutiny

Emmy Sasipornkarn | Dharvi Vaid Dhulia | Zac Crellin 

Reuters, AFP

Gunfire and explosions were heard across Niamey overnight. The attack posed the latest threat to Niger's military junta, led by Abdourahamane Tchiani, who seized power in a 2023 coup.

Niger's Ministry of National Defense ‌on ⁠Saturday said ⁠​a group of soldiers shot at "sensitive" locations in Niamey in an apparent mutiny.

Gunfire and explosions had been heard across Niger's capital in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Attackers had targeted Diori Hamani International Airport, which also houses a military air base.

They also attempted to breach the presidential palace, althoughthe presidential guard was able to push the attackers back.

"Another cowardly attack on Base 101 and once again our defense and security forces ensured ... Situation under control," said lawmaker Bana Wagana Ibrahim, who serves on the Consultative Council.

Niger military 'gradually regaining control'

The situation remained tense on Saturday evening as some mutineers remained camped out near the airport. The whereabouts of the leader of Niger's military junta Abdourahamane Tchiani, remained unclear.

The military said it was "gradually regaining control" after mutineers took soldiers hostage at a base near the airport in Niamey, AFP news agency reported. 

Authorities urged the public to "remain calm and freely go about their business" in a statement read out on public television and signed by Defense Minister General Salifou Mody.

The attack posed the latest threat to Niger's military junta, led by Tchiani, who seized power in a 2023 coup.

Niger, like its Sahelian neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, has for years been ruled by a military junta that has struggled to stem a jihadi insurgency.

Junta requests support from Russia's Africa Corps

Russia's ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, told Russian media that the junta requested assistance from Russia's Africa Corps to help suppress the mutiny.

The Africa Corps is based in the same Niamey airport that was attacked by the rebelling soldiers.

Niger's northern neighbor Algeria, meanwhile, offered its "full solidarity and firm support, with a view to overcoming this ordeal and promoting a rapid return to stability."

National TV signal reportedly cut after gunfire

The shooting began around 1 a.m. local time (0000 GMT) and continued until daybreak.

Locals said that the country's national television had gone off air.

Tele Sahel's satellite and online programming was replaced with a black screen at 9 a.m. local time (0800 GMT), AFP reported. It was restored around one hour later.

Niamey has been targeted by jihadists twice this year: once by the so-called "Islamic State in the Sahel" group (EIS) and again in June by their rivals from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

Edited by: Sean Sinico, Dmytro Hubenko and Wesley Dockery