Niger Presidential Guards Crush Mutiny as Rogue Soldiers Launch Midnight Attack in Niamey

Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked Niamey as mutinous soldiers attempted to storm the presidential palace and seize strategic military installations across the capital.

The assault began in the early hours when rogue elements from within the armed forces launched coordinated strikes targeting key government and defense sites. Among the primary targets was the presidential palace located in the high-security Plateau administrative quarter, where fierce firefights broke out as presidential guards engaged the attackers to stop them from breaching the complex.

Simultaneously, mutinous troops attacked Diori Hamani International Airport and forced their way into Air Base 101, a strategic military hub hosting local and international allied forces. During the standoff at the base, the mutineers reportedly held several senior military officers hostage, prompting the deployment of elite tactical reinforcements and armored vehicles to retake the installation.

As clashes intensified across the city, transmissions from the state television broadcaster were temporarily knocked offline, and security forces sealed off major entry routes into the capital to prevent armed reinforcements from entering the city.

Addressing the nation after loyalist forces regained the upper hand, Niger’s Minister of National Defence, General Salifou Mody, stated that security units mobilized swiftly to overpower the rebel soldiers and restore order. He characterized the incident as a severe breach of military discipline and assured residents that normal security measures have been re-established throughout the capital.

The ruling military administration commended loyalist troops for defending state institutions and called on the public to remain vigilant, ignore unverified rumors, and go about their daily activities peacefully.