Niger: Attempted Coup - Niger Junta Still in Control, but Situation Remains Tense

What the report says

Niger’s junta remained in control after an attempted coup was put down in Niamey, according to Premium Times, which said the confrontation unfolded on Saturday and left the situation tense and fluid. The report said mutinous soldiers tried to seize key sites, including Diori Hamani International Airport, Air Base 101 and areas near the presidential palace, while state radio and television were briefly interrupted.

The article said the putschists announced from the air base that Abdourahamane Tchiani was no longer head of state and declared the constitution dissolved, borders closed and movement restricted. It also said the junta requested help from the Russian-linked Africa Corps, which then worked with Niger’s Presidential Guard in an air and ground response that killed and arrested mutineers. Premium Times reported that the government later said it still held power.

The story placed the episode in the wider context of Niger’s instability since Tchiani seized power in 2023 and the country’s continuing insecurity in areas such as Tillabéri, Téra, Dosso and Ouallam. It also noted unverified claims about possible senior involvement, while stressing that identities remained unclear. Regional reactions were mixed: Burkina Faso and Mali voiced support through the Alliance of Sahel States, while Turkiye and Algeria called for restraint and stability.