Niger’s military government has said it has regained control of the capital, Niamey, after security forces thwarted an apparent coup attempt that triggered heavy gunfire and explosions around key government and military facilities.
The confrontation began in the early hours of Saturday, with fighting reported near the presidential palace and a military base close to the airport.
Niger’s Defence Minister, General Salifou Mody, said a group of soldiers had taken some military personnel hostage at a barracks before opening fire around sensitive locations.
Mody said security and defence forces responded quickly and succeeded in containing the situation and recovering control of the affected sites. He urged residents to remain calm and continue their normal activities.
The presidential guard reportedly played a major role in stopping the attempted takeover. A diplomatic source told AFP that the guard, with support from Russian personnel, recaptured an air base in Niamey.
The source also claimed that some of the soldiers involved in the mutiny were killed during the confrontation.
The incident caused temporary disruption across parts of the capital, with soldiers reportedly restricting movement around the presidential palace and national television station.
Tele Sahel was also briefly taken off air before resuming transmission later in the morning.
A security source said the attackers had attempted to enter the presidential palace but were repelled by members of the presidential guard.
Residents living near the palace and airport reported hearing sustained bursts of gunfire during the night. One resident said the shooting began at about 1am and continued until morning.
Another witness reported hearing explosions and heavy gunfire around Base 101, while armoured military vehicles were seen moving through areas near the airport.
Authorities had earlier appealed to residents to remain calm and warned against spreading unverified information on social media.
By Saturday morning, the situation appeared to have stabilised, with residents in parts of Niamey reporting that the gunfire had stopped and normal activities were gradually returning.
The attempted mutiny comes as Niger continues to battle jihadist insurgencies and remains under military rule nearly three years after the elected government was overthrown.
The presidential guard is reported to have remained loyal to Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, during the latest incident.
Niamey’s airport has also faced attacks from jihadist groups this year. An assault in January was attributed to the Islamic State in the Sahel, while another attack in June was linked to the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims.
Authorities said the January attack left 20 attackers dead and four soldiers wounded.
The latest violence has raised fresh concerns about security and political stability in Niger, although the junta insists that government forces have successfully restored order in the capital.
