Niger’s military ruler yesterday retook a large military post in the city Niamey held by mutinous soldiers, with aid from Russian forces.
Diplomatic and security sources told AFP.
The presidential guard has regained control of the air base alongside the Russians, a diplomatic source said.
Several of the revolting soldiers had been slain, the source claimed. Two security sources verified the base had been retaken.
Niger’s ruling junta said it had regained control after mutinous soldiers triggered armed battles in the capital Saturday, pushing on the presidential palace and jamming the official broadcaster, confirming the latest events.
Niger is governed by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tiani. The junta has been in power for three years and has had to contend with Islamist violence that has been escalating in the west African country for about a decade.
After hours of violent clashes around some of its most important sites, the junta announced it had largely regained control from the rebel soldiers.
Later yesterday the fighting seems to have eased, even if a regional security source and an African diplomatic source reported the rebellious troops still held two barracks around Niamey.
But by yesterday evening, diplomatic and security sources told our correspondent that soldiers of Niger’s presidential guard, supported by Russian forces, had reclaimed the air base, killing some of the mutineers.
Fighting erupted just after midnight and soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and the national television station, Tele Sahel, which went off air for a little more than an hour before being restored around 10 a.m. In a statement later read on state television, Niger’s ruling junta said it was gradually regaining control after hours of clashes.
“There was an attack by Nigerien armed forces insurgents trying to enter the presidential palace,” a security source informed our correspondent, adding that the presidential guard had repelled them.
Some soldiers were taken hostage by a gang of soldiers in the Niamey barracks, Defence Minister General Salifou Mody said on state television, adding that gunfire was directed toward “some sensitive sites” in the capital without specifying which ones.
Troops and security forces have rushed in to restore order, he added, urging local people to remain calm.
‘Shooting’
The initial shots were heard at 1:00 am local time and continued until sunrise, according to a video provided by a local journalist who was monitoring the area near the airport.
The military has published a statement on its social media channels asking people to remain calm and “not to spread unverified information”.
“Heavy gunfire and explosions” were heard at Base 101 in Niamey, a local resident told our correspondent, a claim supported by many other witnesses.
“bursts of gunfire” at about 7:00 AM local time and stated the guns heard “are not the type that terrorists on motorbikes can carry,” another said.
“I saw a military vehicle coming toward the base that had to turn back,” he added.
Armoured vehicles were seen in viral videos being deployed to reinforce the neighbourhood near the airport.
Air Force Base 101 inside the international airport complex is the headquarters of Russia’s Africa Corps in Niamey
The site is touchy. It had a significant shipment of uranium concentrate sitting between December and January ready to be exported. No movement of the package has been detected subsequently.
The facility is also the command of the combined force of the Alliance of Sahel States, of which Niger is a member along with Burkina Faso and Mali.
Junta supporters called on “sincere patriots” to rally in support of the authorities at a big square in Niamey.
Rival jihadist factions
By late afternoon several dozen individuals had assembled in the square. The military music was playing in praise of General Tiani and a stage for speeches was being erected.
Algeria, a neighbour, condemned yesterday’s actions and vowed assistance for the administration of Niamey.
This year the Niamey airport has already been attacked twice, first in January by the Islamic State in the Sahel, EIS, then at the end of June by its rival, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, JNIM, the Sahel branch of Al-Qaeda.
The jihadist organisations are targeting not only people and the military but are fighting for control over one another across the Sahel, and especially in Niger.
The EIS and JNIM also operate in adjacent allies Burkina Faso and Mali, which are likewise headed by military juntas who gained power in coups.
The three countries left the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, grouping, turned their backs on longstanding Western partners in the war against jihadist militancy, especially France, and sought closer ties with Russia.
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