Niger Soldiers Mutiny at Key Niamey Military Base, Authorities Say
Niger authorities confirm a mutiny at a key Niamey military base, with soldiers firing on sensitive sites before security forces regained control.
Authorities in Niger have confirmed a mutiny at a key military base in the capital, Niamey, where a group of soldiers turned against their officers and opened fire on sensitive locations in the city. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, marks the latest serious challenge to the country's ruling military junta.
According to Niger's Defense Minister, General Salifou Mody, the soldiers took some officers hostage at the base and fired on "sensitive sites," in what he described as a "break with discipline and military regulations." The swift intervention of the defense and security forces helped contain the uprising and gradually regain control of the affected areas, he added.
Sustained gunfire and explosions were reported overnight, particularly around the Diori Hamani International Airport, which houses the military air base known as Base 101, and in the Plateau administrative district, home to the presidential palace and key government institutions. Security forces were deployed around the airport and in the Plateau district, while a major road leading to Niamey was closed. Many residents stayed indoors as a precaution.
State broadcaster RTN briefly halted its live transmission on Saturday morning before resuming. The ruling military council, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, called for unity, urging citizens to remain "united, vigilant and supportive." A local lawmaker, Bana Wagana Ibrahim, described the incident as a "cowardly attack" and said the situation had been brought under control.
The airport is a strategic hub, hosting a Nigerien air force base and the headquarters of the joint Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali military force. This is the third attack on the base this year, following two earlier assaults by jihadi rebels.
The mutiny adds to the pressure on Niger's military authorities, who have struggled to contain deadly jihadi violence that has plagued the Sahel region. Niger has been under military rule since a 2023 coup, after which it severed ties with Western security partners and turned to Russia. The country continues to face attacks from extremist groups and worsening economic hardship following aid cuts.