Mutinous soldiers attack airport, presidency in Niger capital, sources say

Niamey, the capital of Niger, was hit by gunfire and explosions early Saturday, according to four sources who described it as an attack by mutinous soldiers. All state television and radio networks were offline by 8 a.m. local time, but the government vowed to restore calm and mobilize security forces in response. The attack underscored the persistent threat to President Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a coup last year and vowed to enhance security in the Sahel nation, a major producer of uranium.

The assault lasted for hours, involving soldiers from the southwest localities of Ouallam, Tera and Dosso, according to a security source and Yvan Guichaoua, a researcher at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies. Troops in the area have suffered heavy casualties in battles with a regional affiliate of Islamic State.

A witness reported heavy gunfire near the presidency, and Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a member of Niger’s Bureau of the Consultative Council, claimed on Facebook that attackers had targeted the military airbase, Base 101. The presidential palace was secured by loyalist troops by 0900 GMT, but the area around the airport remained contested.

The unrest comes amid tighter government control over the uranium sector, with the recent reallocation of assets from France’s Orano.