File: A general view of the Niamey 101 military base in Niamey. Photo by Bertrand GUAY / AFP.
Niger’s presidential guard, backed by Russian forces, on Saturday recaptured a key military base in the capital, Niamey, from mutinous soldiers, according to diplomatic and security sources who spoke to AFP.
“The presidential guard has retaken control of the air base with the help of the Russians,” a diplomatic source said, adding that several of the mutinous soldiers had been killed.
Two security sources separately confirmed that the base had been recaptured.
The development came after mutinous soldiers launched armed clashes in Niamey, advancing toward the presidential palace and briefly disrupting broadcasts by the state-owned television station, Tele Sahel.
Niger’s ruling junta later said it had regained control of the situation following hours of fighting around several sensitive locations in the capital.
The West African country has been governed for three years by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani, whose administration has faced persistent jihadist violence that has plagued Niger for nearly a decade.
Fighting broke out shortly after midnight, with soldiers blocking access to the presidential palace and the national broadcaster. Tele Sahel was taken off air for just over an hour before resuming broadcasts at around 10 a.m.
A security source told AFP that the mutinous soldiers had attempted to enter the presidential palace but were repelled by the presidential guard.
“There was an attempt by insurgents from the Nigerien armed forces to enter the presidential palace,” the source said.
Niger’s Defence Minister, General Salifou Mody, said on state television that a group of soldiers had taken some troops hostage at a barracks in Niamey before opening fire at what he described as “certain sensitive sites” in the city.
He did not identify the locations targeted.
Mody said government troops and security forces had quickly regained control and urged residents to remain calm.
Although the intensity of the fighting appeared to have eased later Saturday, a regional security source and an African diplomatic source said the mutineers continued to hold two barracks around Niamey.
By Saturday evening, however, diplomatic and security sources told AFP that the presidential guard, supported by Russian forces, had retaken the air base and killed several of the mutinous soldiers.
The junta subsequently declared that it was “back in control” and gradually restoring order across the capital.
