Clashes in Niger's Niamey after troops attempt to storm presidential palace

Clashes erupted in Niamey, Niger’s capital, on Saturday between the presidential guard and elements of the armed forces, following heavy gunfire throughout the city. A military source informed AFP that insurgents from the Nigerien armed forces attempted to breach the presidential palace. The presidential guard successfully repelled the insurgents, and gun battles continued at the palace.

The African diplomat in Niamey stated that the presidential guard remained loyal to General Abdourahamane Tiani, the current ruler. The military claimed they were "gradually regaining control" after the mutineers took soldiers hostage at a base near the capital’s airport. A statement by the authorities, read on public television, urged citizens to remain calm and continue their daily activities.

The military mobilized forces to protect the nation after the initial gunfire. Local witnesses reported heavy gunfire and explosions near Base 101, a base adjacent to Niamey’s airport. The national TV station, Tele Sahel, went off air for approximately an hour, replaced by a black screen on both satellite and online platforms. Soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and national television.

The first gunshots were heard around 1 a.m. local time and persisted until dawn. Residents described sporadic bursts of gunfire heard at 7 a.m. The weapons involved were powerful, not carried by motorbike-mounted terrorists. A resident reported seeing a military vehicle attempting to return to the base but turning back due to the intense gunfire.

Several social media posts also detailed shooting and explosions in the city, particularly around the administrative area housing the presidential palace and national television station. Online videos showcased armored vehicles deployed to bolster security near the airport. The EIS and JNIM, known terrorist groups, have recently targeted Niamey airport twice – once in January by the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) and again in June by their rivals, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), the Sahel branch of Al-Qaeda.

These groups both target civilians and military personnel and compete for dominance in the Sahel region, especially in Niger. Twenty militants and four soldiers were killed in the January attack, according to authorities. Tiani, who heads the military junta established following a July 2023 coup, had previously expressed regret over a "flaw in the system" that enabled the attack, which aimed to destroy the army’s air capabilities.