Clashes in Niger after troops try to storm presidential palace

Clashes erupted in Niger's capital, Niamey, on Saturday between the presidential guard and elements of the armed forces, following a night of heavy gunfire in parts of the city. The military junta, which has ruled Niger for three years, struggled to contain jihadist violence that has plagued the country for over a decade. A security source reported that insurgents from the armed forces attempted to enter the presidential palace, but were repelled by the presidential guard.

The fighting continued at the palace, with exchanges of gunfire still ongoing. An African diplomat confirmed that the presidential guard remained loyal to General Abdourahamane Tiani, the ruler of Niger. The military stated it was gradually regaining control after mutineers took soldiers hostage at a base near the capital's airport.

Authorities urged the public to remain calm and avoid sharing unverified information. The first shots were heard around 1am local time and continued until dawn, according to witnesses. Several social media posts reported shooting and explosions in the city, particularly near the presidential palace and national television station.

Videos showed armoured vehicles deployed to reinforce the neighborhood near the airport. Niamey airport had been targeted twice this year by jihadist groups, Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) in January and Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) in June. Tiani, head of the military regime, previously acknowledged "a flaw in the system" that enabled an attack aimed at destroying the army's air capabilities.