Niger mutiny leaves dozens dead or held as junta faces internal revolt

Young soldiers in Niamey tried to mutiny, triggering clashes at a key air base. The failed revolt has sharpened pressure on Niger's junta over worsening insecurity and military discontent.Image used for representational purposes onlyDozens of soldiers were killed or arrested after a group of young troops attempted a mutiny in Niger's capital, in what was seen as a major threat to the country's ruling junta, according to state television and analysts. Gunfire and explosions were heard overnight into Saturday at a key military base inside Niamey's main airport complex and near the presidential palace.The unrest lasted nearly 24 hours and was seen as being driven by anger among younger soldiers over worsening militant violence under the military rulers. Analysts and diplomats said Russia's Africa Corps gave aerial and ground support to local forces resisting the rebellion, while the full situation on the ground remained unclear.State broadcaster RTN showed footage of dozens of mostly young soldiers being paraded in public after the fighting. "The fighting lasted a few hours in several places, which allowed (security forces) to gradually control the situation, arrest and incapacitate these moody soldiers," state TV reported. The whereabouts of military leader Abdourahamane Tchiani were not clear.According to diplomats and analysts, some of the mutinous soldiers came from the southwest of the country, one of the regions worst hit by insecurity. The unrest began with a hostage situation. RTN briefly stopped its live broadcast on Saturday morning before returning with a statement from Defence Minister Gen. Salifou Mody, who said a group of soldiers had taken some officers hostage at the base and opened fire at "sensitive sites" in a "break with the discipline and military regulations." Analysts and diplomats said the rebelling soldiers remained at the base until late Saturday, while the presidential guard secured the presidential palace and was deployed to regain control of the base. Russian media quoted Moscow's Ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, as saying senior Nigerien military officers visited the Africa Corps base at the airport and "expressed gratitude to its servicemen for their assistance in suppressing the rebellion". Wassim Nasr, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Centre, said loyalist forces had regained the "upper hand at least at the airport (and base)", though some forces were still moving towards the capital and it was not clear whether they were coming to back the mutiny or the junta. The Associated Press said it could not independently confirm whether Nigerien security forces had regained full control of the base.The airport is a strategic hub that hosts a Nigerien air force base and the headquarters of the joint Niger-Burkina Faso-Mali military force. All three neighbouring countries are under military rule after a string of coups in the Sahel, but all are struggling with insecurity. This is the third time this year that the base at Diori Hamani International Airport has been attacked, after two earlier assaults by jihadi rebels. Niger's junta took power in a 2023 coup, saying the elected government had failed to control armed violence. Since then, the country has cut ties with longtime Western security partners and turned instead to Russia. But observers say the junta has still been unable to contain militant violence and repeated killings of security personnel, adding to discontent within the military. The ruling National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland called for unity, saying in a Facebook post: "Our Defence and Security Forces are mobilised for the Defence of the Fatherland. Let us remain united, vigilant and supportive." Algeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it had assured Niger of its "full solidarity and firm support, with a view to overcoming this ordeal and promoting a rapid return to stability."Heni Nsaibia, West Africa senior analyst at Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, said the attacks were "becoming commonplace and will continue to fuel unrest and aggravate tensions within the army ranks". He added: "Deteriorating insecurity drove the coups that swept across the central Sahel, and the latest events show how these same pressures are now fuelling unrest within the militaries that seized power." The mutiny has added to pressure on Niger's military authorities, whose security forces, backed by Russia's Africa Corps, have been stretched across several fronts by jihadi groups.The attempted mutiny has underlined the pressure on Niger's military leadership as it faces unrest within its own ranks while also trying to tackle militant violence. While state media said the situation had been brought under control, questions remained over the full extent of the rebellion and the wider security challenge facing the junta.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 30, 2026 08:26 IST