BY FRONTLINE REPORTERS

Niger’s military authorities on Saturday announced that they had regained control of a strategically important military base in the capital, Niamey, following an armed mutiny that briefly threatened key government installations.

Diplomatic and security sources told AFP that members of Niger’s presidential guard, backed by Russian forces, recaptured Air Force Base 101 after intense clashes with mutinous soldiers. Several of the rebel troops were reportedly killed during the operation.

“The presidential guard has retaken control of the air base with the help of the Russians,” a diplomatic source said, a claim corroborated by two security sources.

The development came after mutinous soldiers launched an overnight uprising, blocking access to the presidential palace and the national television station, Tele Sahel. The broadcaster was forced off the air for more than an hour before transmissions resumed around 10 a.m.

Niger’s ruling junta, led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, later declared that it was “back in control” after security forces pushed the mutineers away from sensitive installations.

Defence Minister General Salifou Mody said a group of soldiers had taken some troops hostage at a barracks in Niamey before opening fire at unspecified strategic locations. He urged residents to remain calm, insisting that government forces were rapidly restoring order.

‘Bursts of Gunfire’ Rock Niamey

The first shots were reportedly heard at about 1 a.m. local time and continued until daybreak. Residents described heavy gunfire and explosions around Base 101, located within the international airport complex.

One witness told AFP that the weapons being fired were far more powerful than those typically carried by jihadists operating on motorcycles.

Videos circulating online showed armoured military vehicles moving into areas around the airport as security forces reinforced the strategic installation.

The importance of Base 101 extends beyond Niger’s domestic security. The facility houses the headquarters of Russia’s Africa Corps in Niamey and serves as a command centre for the unified military force of the Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

The base has also been at the centre of Niger’s uranium export operations. Between December and January, it reportedly hosted a large shipment of uranium concentrate that was awaiting export, although no subsequent movement of the consignment has been confirmed.

Junta Under Pressure

The attempted mutiny represents a serious challenge for General Tiani, who has ruled Niger since the 2023 military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

The junta has faced persistent jihadist violence despite its decision to sever military ties with France and other Western partners and deepen its strategic relationship with Russia.

The security situation has become increasingly complicated by rivalry between two major jihadist organisations operating across the Sahel — the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) and the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM).

Niamey’s airport itself has come under attack twice this year. The Islamic State in the Sahel reportedly targeted the facility in January, while JNIM launched another attack in late June.

Both groups are active across Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso — three countries now governed by military juntas that have withdrawn from ECOWAS and formed the Alliance of Sahel States.

Russia’s Growing Role

The reported involvement of Russian forces in helping the presidential guard regain control of Base 101 underscores Moscow’s expanding military and strategic influence in Niger following the junta’s rupture with its former Western allies.

Supporters of General Tiani subsequently called on citizens to rally behind the military government in Niamey. By late afternoon, dozens of people had gathered at a major city square as military music praising the junta leader played.

Neighbouring Algeria condemned the attempted uprising and expressed support for Niger’s government.

Although the immediate fighting appeared to have subsided by Saturday evening, regional security and diplomatic sources said some mutinous troops were still holding two barracks in and around Niamey.

The latest crisis therefore leaves Niger’s junta facing a critical test: whether its claim of having restored control will translate into lasting stability — or whether Saturday’s mutiny signals deeper fractures within the military establishment.