Niger Arrests or Kills Dozens of Soldiers After Attempted Mutiny in Niamey

Nigerian authorities have arrested or killed dozens of soldiers following an attempted mutiny in the capital, Niamey, after nearly 24 hours of unrest around a key military base near the presidential palace.

The attempted rebellion, reportedly involving mainly young soldiers, came amid growing frustration over persistent militant violence and worsening insecurity in parts of the West African country.

State broadcaster RTN aired footage showing dozens of predominantly young soldiers being paraded in public after sustained gunfire and explosions were reported overnight into Saturday at the military facility.

The base is located within Niamey's main airport complex and lies close to the presidential palace, making the unrest particularly significant given the strategic importance of the area.

Loyalist Forces Regain Control

Security forces loyal to the government reportedly regained control of the military base after fighting continued for several hours.

The mutinous soldiers had remained inside the facility until late Saturday, while presidential guards secured the presidential palace and moved to retake the base.

Wassim Nasr, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, said loyalist forces appeared to have regained the upper hand at the airport and military base, although the situation remained fluid.

Some additional military units were reportedly moving towards Niamey, but it was initially unclear whether they intended to support the mutiny or the government.

The whereabouts of Niger's military leader, General Abdourahamane Tiani, were also unclear during the unrest.

Russia's Africa Corps Reportedly Supports Government

Russia's Africa Corps reportedly provided aerial and ground support to Nigerien forces attempting to suppress the rebellion, according to analysts and diplomats.

Russian media quoted Moscow's Ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, as saying senior Nigerien military officers had visited the Africa Corps base at the airport and expressed gratitude to Russian personnel for their assistance in suppressing the mutiny.

The reported involvement highlights the growing security relationship between Niger and Russia following the country's break with several traditional Western military partners.

Niger has increasingly relied on Russian security cooperation since the 2023 military coup that brought Tiani to power.

Supporters Rally Behind Tiani

Following the restoration of order, hundreds of people gathered in Niamey to demonstrate their support for Tiani and the military-led government.

Ibrahim Boubacar, head of a pro-government association, condemned what he described as attempts to destabilise the country.

He said supporters would not accept efforts to undermine what he called Niger's "emancipatory process" and accused external actors of seeking to exploit divisions within the country.

The demonstrations underscored the continued support among sections of the population for the military authorities, despite persistent security challenges.

Militancy Fuels Tensions Within Military

Tiani seized power in July 2023 after overthrowing President Mohamed Bazoum, saying the elected government's failure to contain jihadist violence had justified the takeover.

Since then, Niger has ended military cooperation with several Western partners and strengthened its relationship with Russia.

However, militant attacks have continued, particularly in areas bordering Mali and Burkina Faso, where armed groups linked to jihadist organisations remain active.

Analysts and diplomats said some of the soldiers involved in the attempted mutiny originated from southwestern Niger, one of the regions severely affected by insecurity.

The unrest therefore raises fresh questions about whether the government's strategy for combating militant groups is delivering the results expected by members of the armed forces.

For now, authorities appear to have regained control of Niamey's strategic military installations, but the attempted mutiny has exposed continued tensions within Niger's security establishment.