Thousands of people took to the streets of Niger’s capital, Niamey, on Wednesday to express support for military leader General Abdourahamane Tiani following the reported foiling of an attempted army mutiny.
The demonstration came days after forces loyal to the military government, reportedly aided by Russian partners, put down the attempted uprising. The mutiny had triggered intense fighting around several strategic locations in the capital.
Tiani, who seized power in a 2023 coup, has not made a public appearance or issued a statement since the reported attempted mutiny.
The rally, held at the Place de la Concertation, attracted several thousand people, including supporters of the junta and government ministers. The location had also witnessed a demonstration on Saturday as fighting was underway.
State media reported that similar rallies were planned in other major cities across the West African country.
Participants chanted slogans against foreign influence, including “down with the imperialists,” while Russian flags were prominently displayed among the crowd.
Russia’s Africa Corps, a paramilitary force, has emerged as a key security partner of Niger’s military authorities since the junta took power and moved away from its traditional relationship with France.
Addressing the gathering, Business Minister Abdoulaye Seydou said the demonstration was intended to show national unity in support of the military government.
“We will show the whole world that the Nigerien people stand united” and that “treason will not break our determination,” Seydou told the crowd.
General Tiani’s chief of staff, General Amadou Ibro, alleged that those behind the attempted mutiny were operating from outside Niger.
“The sponsors are based abroad,” he claimed, echoing accusations frequently made by the junta against foreign powers.
Niger’s state television had previously accused France, its former colonial ruler, of being behind the attempted uprising, although no independent evidence was provided to substantiate the allegation.
Relations between Niamey and Paris have deteriorated sharply since the 2023 coup. France withdrew its military forces from Niger, while the junta subsequently strengthened its relationship with Russia.
Niger has joined neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali in distancing itself from France and seeking closer military and political ties with Moscow.
The three Sahel countries, all ruled by military governments, have sought Russian support as they battle jihadist groups operating across the region.
Despite the military governments’ claims of improved sovereignty and stronger security partnerships, jihadist violence remains a major challenge across the Sahel, with armed groups continuing to carry out attacks in several areas.
The latest demonstration therefore comes at a critical moment for Niger’s junta as it seeks to consolidate its authority following the reported mutiny and maintain control amid persistent security threats.
