Niger’s military authorities have said they are “gradually regaining control” after a group of soldiers allegedly launched a mutiny at a military base near the international airport in the capital, Niamey, where heavy gunfire was reported overnight.
The authorities said the mutineers attempted to detain fellow soldiers at Air Force Base 101 and opened fire at several sensitive locations in the city.
In a statement read on state television and signed by Defence Minister General Salifou Mody, the government called on residents to remain calm and continue with their normal activities.
The statement said a group of soldiers, acting in violation of military regulations, attempted to hold some of their colleagues hostage at the Base 101 barracks and fired on several strategic sites in Niamey.
“The prompt reaction of the defence and security forces made it possible to contain this mutiny and gradually regain control of these sites,” the statement said.
Security sources also told AFP that insurgents from within the armed forces attempted to enter the presidential palace on Saturday but were repelled by members of the presidential guard.
Residents across Niamey reported hearing sustained gunfire during the night, particularly around the presidential palace and the airport, where a major military installation is located.
According to a local journalist, the first shots were heard at about 1am and continued until daybreak. Another resident reported hearing bursts of gunfire around 7am and said he saw a military vehicle heading towards the base before it turned back.
“The weapons we’re hearing are not the kind that terrorists on motorbikes can carry,” the resident said, adding that the shooting had continued throughout the night.
Another resident in western Niamey reported hearing sporadic small-arms fire around 5am, while several social media posts described explosions and shooting in areas around the presidential palace and the state television station.
State television was reportedly off air for more than an hour before returning at around 10am.
The military has not immediately disclosed the identity or motives of those behind the mutiny.
In a message posted on its official social media platforms, the armed forces urged citizens to remain calm and refrain from circulating unverified information, saying defence and security forces had been mobilised to protect the country.
The incident comes three years after Niger’s military junta took power and as the country continues to battle jihadist groups operating across the Sahel.
The Base 101 military facility has itself been targeted twice this year. It was attacked by the Islamic State in the Sahel in January, while the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) attacked the facility in June.
The two jihadist organisations have expanded their operations across the Sahel, targeting civilians and security forces while also competing for influence and territory in Niger and neighbouring countries.
Niger’s military ruler, General Abdourahamane Tiani, said in January that a “flaw in the system” had enabled an earlier attack on the base, which he said was aimed at destroying the army’s air capabilities.
Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali are all governed by military regimes that seized power through coups and have strengthened their military and political cooperation through the Alliance of Sahel States.
Air Force Base 101, located within Niamey’s international airport complex, is considered a highly sensitive military facility. It hosts Russian Africa Corps personnel and serves as the command centre for the joint force of the Alliance of Sahel States.
The facility also reportedly held a major shipment of uranium concentrate between December and January while awaiting export. There has been no confirmed report of movement of the shipment since then.
Authorities have yet to provide further details on the number of casualties, arrests or the current status of the alleged mutiny.
