On Saturday, August 29, Niger’s military regime made an announcement. It said it was “progressively regaining control.” This came after a mutiny attempt by rogue soldiers.
Heavy gunfire broke out early that morning. It was heard in several parts of the capital, Niamey. The shooting was especially close to the presidential palace. It also happened near the airport, which sits next to the 101 military base.
The 101 base is very important to the regime. The regime took power in a coup in July 2023.
Defense Minister General Salifou Mody read a statement on public television. He said the mutineers had “sequestered some of their comrades” inside the base’s barracks. They also fired on “sensitive sites” in the city.
However, the minister added that the military responded quickly. That response contained the unrest. As a result, authorities were able to “progressively regain control.” He also asked the public to “remain calm” and go about their normal activities.
This was not the first attack near the Niamey airport. In January, the Islamic State group targeted it. Then in June, a different group struck. That group is called JNIM. It is Al Qaeda’s branch in the Sahel region.
Both attacks were stopped by the army. But the June attack was deadly. It killed 11 soldiers and two civilians.
Niger’s junta has struggled with jihadist violence for years. After the January attack, General Abdourahamane Tiani spoke publicly. He has led the country since the 2023 coup. He admitted there was a “flaw in the security system.” That flaw, he said, allowed the attack to happen.
Meanwhile, neighboring Mali also faced a major attack. In April, JNIM struck Mali’s capital, Bamako. Mali is also run by a junta.
Niger has battled jihadists since the mid-2010s. Its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali have faced the same problem. All three countries are now governed by juntas. They have formed a new alliance called the Alliance of Sahel States.
As a result, they have turned away from France. France used to be their main partner in fighting jihadists. Now they are moving closer to Russia.
For example, the Niamey junta often accuses France of funding jihadists. It says France wants to destabilize Niger. However, Paris denies these claims.
Reference
Le Monde, “Au Niger, le régime militaire dit reprendre progressivement le contrôle face à des mutins après une nuit marquée par des tirs dans la capitale,” published August 29, 2026. https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2026/08/29/au-niger-le-regime-militaire-dit-reprendre-progressivement-le-controle-face-a-des-mutins-apres-une-nuit-marquee-par-des-tirs-dans-la-capitale_6759501_3213.html