Niger mutiny in Niamey crushed with Russian support as junta regains control

A mutiny by soldiers in Niamey was crushed after loyalist forces, backed by Russian troops, retook key sites. The flare-up exposed deep strains within Niger's junta as insecurity and anger in the ranks keep rising.Image used for representational purposes onlyNiger's capital Niamey appeared calm on Sunday, with normal life returning a day after young soldiers staged a mutiny that posed a serious challenge to the ruling military junta before being pushed back by loyalist forces aided by Russian troops.The unrest, the biggest known threat to the junta since it took power in a 2023 coup, led to sustained gunfire from Friday night until late Saturday. Most of the clashes were reported around Niamey's main airport, which houses a military air base, and in the district where the presidential palace is located.The violence ended with dozens of soldiers being arrested or killed. State television showed them being paraded live on camera, though their fate was not immediately clear and the authorities did not announce any charges. On Sunday, military trucks and checkpoints were visible across the city, especially on major roads between the airport and the presidential district. Junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani had not made any public comment or appearance.According to witnesses, Nigeriens were awakened around midnight between Friday and Saturday by bursts of gunfire and explosions at Diori Hamani International Airport. The airport is a key military site, housing Base 101 and the headquarters of Russia's Africa Corps in Niger. Gunfire was also heard near the presidential palace in Niamey's Plateau district as a group of soldiers confronted forces loyal to the junta. Niger's Defence Ministry said its forces were gradually regaining control after a group of soldiers took their "comrades" hostage at the air base and opened fire on "sensitive" sites, without giving a reason for the unrest. Analysts and diplomats said the chaos continued for hours into late Saturday as the presidential guard and other loyalist forces moved to secure the air base and the presidency. A European diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said some of the mutineers had come from hot spots in the south and west and were trying to gather support from soldiers stationed outside the city.Analysts said the mutiny appeared to be driven by anger over worsening insecurity, including frequent jihadi attacks that have killed large numbers of soldiers over the past year. Hni Nsaibia, senior West Africa analyst at Armed Conflict Location and Event Data, said deadly attacks are "becoming commonplace (in the country) and will continue to fuel unrest and aggravate tensions within the army ranks". Violence linked to jihadi groups has worsened across the wider Sahel, including in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, where the military also took power from civilian governments. In Niger, the junta had promised to stabilise the country, but security has instead deteriorated. Attacks on military positions have increased, including one about a week ago in the southern Dosso region in which at least 18 soldiers were reportedly killed. Wassim Nasr, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Centre, said the junta had led Niger into a "critical security situation" and that the mutiny was led largely by soldiers deployed on the ground against jihadis. Nsaibia added: "Deteriorating insecurity drove the coups that swept across the central Sahel, and the latest events show how these same pressures are now fueling unrest within the militaries that seized power."Several analysts said the mutineers stayed inside the military base at the airport for hours and resisted loyalist forces until Russia's Africa Corps stepped in with ground and air support. The force is believed to have between 200 and 300 personnel in Niger, where it mainly protects the junta and its interests while also supporting operations against jihadis. In interviews aired by Russian media, Russia's ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, said Niger had requested support from the Russian force and that the mutineers were "neutralised thanks to the intervention" of Africa Corps. Nasr said the mutineers outnumbered the elite presidential guard sent to retake the air base, and it was unclear who had control until the Russians intervened. "At the end of the day, it is easier to go full-blown on repression when it's a foreign force," Nasr said.Support for Niger's junta also came from its neighbours and allies. The Alliance of Sahel States, which includes Burkina Faso and Mali, said late on Saturday that it gave its "full support" to Niger and condemned the soldiers' "betrayal". The bloc said: "Thanks to the bravery and professionalism of the loyalist republican forces, this latest attempt was contained and thwarted." Algeria said it stood by Niger with its "full solidarity and firm support", while Turkiye expressed solidarity with the country and its people and called for "restraint" to preserve security and stability.By Sunday, Niamey had returned to calm, but the mutiny laid bare tensions within Niger's military as the junta faces a worsening security crisis and growing pressure from within its own ranks.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Aug 30, 2026 20:28 IST