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Niamey, Niger — Niger's defense ministry announced on Sunday that its forces were in the process of regaining control following a mutiny by soldiers that threatened the stability of the country's junta. The unrest, which began on Saturday, saw mutineers storm the presidential palace and establish a presence at a military base in the capital's main airport, leading to a tense standoff with loyalist forces.
The mutiny, which analysts described as a significant threat to the junta that has been in power since a 2023 coup, involved soldiers engaging in sustained gunfire with loyalist forces throughout the night from Friday into Saturday. The clashes primarily occurred at the military air base within the Diori Hamani International Airport and in the district housing the presidential palace.
The situation escalated as authorities arrested or killed dozens of soldiers, with their fates remaining unclear as of Sunday. The junta leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, had yet to make any public comments or appear in public.
Witnesses, analysts, and diplomats offered insights into the mutiny. Nigeriens were awakened by gunfire and explosions at the airport, a strategic hub hosting a key military air base and the headquarters of Russia's Africa Corps. The unrest was the third such incident at the airport this year.
The defense ministry attributed the chaos to a group of soldiers taking "comrades" hostage at the air base and firing at "sensitive" sites, but did not specify the cause of the unrest. The unrest persisted for hours, with the presidential guard and other loyalist forces eventually securing the air base and the presidency.
The mutineers, some of whom came from areas in the south and west severely affected by jihadist violence, were reportedly attempting to rally support from soldiers stationed outside the city. The unrest was seen as a direct result of grievances over rising insecurity, including widespread jihadist attacks that have led to the mass killing of soldiers in the past year.
Héni Nsaibia, a senior West Africa analyst at Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, a conflict monitor, warned that deadly attacks were becoming increasingly common and would continue to fuel unrest and tensions within the military ranks. The situation in Niger has deteriorated significantly since the junta took power, with attacks on military positions, including a recent incident in the southern Dosso region where at least 18 soldiers were reportedly killed.
FRANCE 24's terrorism expert, Wassim Nasr, suggested that the junta had failed to stabilize the country, leading to discontent among soldiers, particularly those deployed against jihadists. The mutiny, he said, was a clear indication of the pressures building within the military that had seized power.
The mutineers remained camped at the military base within the airport complex for several hours, resisting efforts from loyalist forces. It was only when Russia's Africa Corps intervened with ground and aerial support that the situation began to stabilize. The Africa Corps, believed to have between 200 to 300 personnel in Niger, is primarily tasked with protecting the junta and its interests, as well as supporting the fight against jihadists.
In interviews broadcast on Russian media, Moscow's ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, acknowledged Niger's request for support from the Russian force and credited the Africa Corps with "neutralizing" the mutineers. The intervention by the Russia's Africa Corps was seen as a crucial factor in restoring order, as the mutineers had initially outnumbered the elite presidential guard deployed to retake the air base.
The regional Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Burkina Faso and Mali, issued a statement expressing its full support for Niger and condemning the mutiny as a "betrayal." The AES praised the bravery and professionalism of the loyalist republican forces for containing the latest attempt to destabilize the country.
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