Rebels attacked the airport and the presidential palace: coup attempt in Niger
Media outlets in the country reported heavy exchanges of fire in several locations in the capital, Niamey, after officers opposing the military junta declared a rebellion. Sources in the country report that the coup attempt appears to have been suppressed and calm prevails in the capital.
A coup attempt in West Africa: rebel soldiers attacked today, Saturday, the airport in Niamey, the capital of Niger, briefly took control of the national television station, and continued toward the presidential palace in the early morning hours.
The state television network in the country reported that an uprising attempt had been carried out, and a person with ties within the military government of Niger said that it was a coup attempt by young officers who are dissatisfied with the regime of Abdourahamane Tchiani.
"It is young military personnel who are tired of Tchiani. They took over the airport, they took over Turkish drones at the airport, they took over the national television and radio... They tried to reach the palace but were pushed back," the source said.
A foreign diplomat in Niamey confirmed to the "Financial Times" that a coup attempt had been carried out, but said that it appeared the government had managed to re-establish control over areas in the center of the capital. Another resident of Niamey, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, said that there was an "ongoing coup attempt" with heavy gunfire on Friday night and Saturday morning. "The situation has calmed down in the last two hours," he said, at noon local time.
The state broadcaster stopped live transmission for several hours, but later resumed broadcasting, according to the AP news agency. A statement attributed to Niger's Minister of Defense, Salifou Mody, which was read on the national broadcast network, confirmed that rebels tried to restrict other soldiers to the main bases in Niamey and fired on sensitive sites throughout the capital.
The announcement added that the Nigerien security forces managed to "thwart" the attempt and "gradually restore control over these sites." The ruling military council, known as the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, stated on Facebook: "Our defense and security forces are mobilized for the defense of the homeland. Let us remain united, vigilant, and supportive."
Tchiani overthrew the democratic government of Mohamed Bazoum in July 2023, promising to restore security to the country which, like its neighbors in the Sahel, Mali and Burkina Faso, has been fighting an Islamist insurgency for several years. Bazoum has remained under house arrest in Niamey since his ouster.
However, the security situation has worsened since the military government took over the country and expelled the French forces stationed in the country. Niamey Airport, which houses a military base and uranium warehouses, has been attacked twice by Islamist militants this year.
