Niger’s defence ministry says armed forces retaking management of web sites focused in in a single day assault.
Revealed On 29 Aug 2026
A bunch of troopers in Niger has rebelled towards officers at a key navy base and fired at delicate places within the capital, Niamey, in an obvious collective mutiny, in line with authorities.
Sustained gunfire and explosions have been heard in a single day into Saturday within the metropolis, together with on the essential airport that homes the navy air base, often known as Base 101, and within the Plateau administrative district, the place the presidential palace and key establishments are situated.
By late morning, Niger’s defence ministry mentioned the armed forces have been progressively retaking management of web sites focused within the in a single day assault, however safety sources mentioned mutineers have been nonetheless current on the airport and the general scenario remained unclear.
The incident marks the third time the town – and particularly the principle airport advanced – has skilled main unrest this yr, underscoring persistent insecurity underneath Niger’s military-led authorities that seized energy in a coup in 2023 and vowed to revive order.
Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a member of Niger’s Bureau of the Consultative Council and a deputy within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) parliament, mentioned on Fb that attackers had focused Base 101 however that safety forces had regained management.
“One other cowardly assault on Base 101 and as soon as once more our defence and safety forces ensured … State of affairs underneath management,” Ibrahim wrote.
Movies on-line confirmed armoured automobiles deployed to strengthen the neighbourhood close to the airport. Niger’s nationwide tv station was additionally lower off following the in a single day gunfire in Niamey, native residents advised AFP information company.
State tv, after resuming broadcasts, aired a message saying mutinous troopers from a base in Niamey had opened hearth on “delicate websites” within the metropolis. Safety forces had reacted rapidly and “contained this disturbance”, it mentioned.
The assault concerned troopers from Ouallam, Tera, and Dosso within the southwest, in line with a Niger safety supply and Yvan Guichaoua, senior researcher on the Bonn Worldwide Centre for Battle Research.
Troops on this space have sustained heavy casualties in battles with the regional al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS) associates, as safety sources say frustration with the federal government is mounting inside frontline items.
The Nigerien navy urged individuals to stay calm and keep away from sharing unverified info, saying its defence and safety forces had been mobilised.
Niamey airport has been focused twice this yr by armed teams, first by ISIL affiliate Islamic State within the Sahel in January after which by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the Sahel branch of al-Qaeda, in June.
Niger, a mineral-rich West African nation with vital uranium, oil and gold assets, has been dominated by the navy since a July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Since seizing energy, Common Abdourahamane Tchiani’s navy authorities has shifted away from Western companions, deepened ties with Russia, and joined Mali and Burkina Faso in AES, a breakaway from the regional ECOWAS bloc.
