Niger authorities say they suppressed military mutiny in Niamey
Niger’s military authorities said they control the situation in the country’s capital, Niamey, after gunfire and explosions were heard in several parts of the city on the morning of August 29. According to the government, facilities including the airport and the presidential palace came under attack by mutinous soldiers.
As Premium Times Nigeria reports, state broadcasters went off the air early in the morning. Later, the military government urged citizens to remain calm, assuring them that security forces responded quickly and suppressed the mutiny.
Defense minister’s statement
A statement signed by Defense Minister Salifou Mody said that forces loyal to the authorities engaged the mutineers and restored order in the areas affected by the unrest. Mody called on citizens to return to their normal lives and stated that the government fully controls the situation.
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Local residents said that during the unrest, soldiers blocked approaches to the presidential palace and the national television building. According to local sources, the attack lasted several hours and involved soldiers from the southwestern towns of Ouallam, Tera and Dosso.
Key facilities were targets
Witnesses claimed that the attackers targeted the presidential palace, the national television station and Military Air Base 101. This led to speculation about a possible attempted coup.
The events posed a challenge to the authorities of General Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a coup in July 2023, removing democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Jihadist insurgencies continue in Niger; groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State had previously attacked Niamey’s civilian airport and the nearby military air base.
