The mutiny that began in Niamey was quickly suppressed

The coup attempt in Niger became apparent on Saturday morning after explosions and gunfire were heard in the capital, Niamey. The clashes reportedly centered around the strategically important No. 101 Air Base and the presidential palace. Nigerien authorities announced hours later that the uprising had been brought under control.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that Nigerien forces had repelled the attack with the support of personnel from the Africa Corps, which operates under the Russian Defense Ministry. The ministry said Moscow would continue supporting Niger in its fight against "extremists" and added that the situation in the country remained under the control of General Abdourahmane Tiani’s administration.

Targets and initial official information

Nigerien officials did not say how many soldiers took part in the mutiny or provide any figures on those killed or injured. State television broadcast footage of some suspected mutineers who were detained by the Presidential Guard. General Abdourahmane Tiani, who seized power last year by ousting the elected leader, did not make a direct public statement about the incident.

Statements from Moscow and the Sahel alliance

The Sahel States Alliance, formed by Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, described the attempt as a betrayal carried out by a group of soldiers seeking to destabilize the country. The three military governments, which have cut back ties with Western partners in recent years, have strengthened security cooperation with Russia.

  • Russia’s Africa Corps has become one of the main security partners for military governments in the Sahel region.
  • Despite this, jihadist attacks continue widely in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

This latest mutiny showed that Niger’s authorities are facing not only externally driven armed threats but also signs of discontent within the military.

The importance of the air base and the situation in the city

The No. 101 Air Base, where the attack began, is part of the Diori Hamani International Airport complex. The base hosts Nigerien military aircraft and drones, as well as the counterterrorism unit of the Sahel States Alliance. Reuters reported that Russian and Italian personnel are also stationed at the site.

According to officials, the air base had been targeted twice by jihadist groups this year; one attack was linked to the Islamic State and the other to an al-Qaeda-affiliated network. After the coup attempt, security forces stepped up patrols at key locations in Niamey, including the main airport entrance and the presidential pavilion.

According to the Niger Press Agency on Sunday, fuel stations, shops and other businesses have reopened and commercial life has started returning to normal. Supporters of the government, who gathered in a square in the city center, also held a demonstration backing the security forces and Tiani’s administration.