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Niger's junta says it has 'contained' a coup attempt after mutinous soldiers storm the presidential palace

Armoured vehicles were deployed near the airport as security forces worked to repel the assault and restore order across Niamey.
Armoured vehicles were deployed near the airport as security forces worked to repel the assault and restore order across Niamey.
A mutineer captured during the uprising, which drew soldiers from garrisons as far as Ouallam, Tera and Dosso into the assault on Niamey.
A mutineer captured during the uprising, which drew soldiers from garrisons as far as Ouallam, Tera and Dosso into the assault on Niamey.

Mutinous soldiers attacked Niger's presidential palace and military airbase in Niamey overnight into Saturday, in what security sources called a bid to overthrow the ruling junta of Abdourahamane Tiani. Niger's defence ministry announced it had progressively retaken control of targeted sites, with state television resuming broadcasts after going offline for several hours. Rival armed factions remained in a standoff in the capital as of Saturday morning, with heavy gunfire and explosions reported near the airport for hours.

Tiani, who came to power through a 2023 coup, had pledged to improve security but has faced repeated jihadist attacks on Niamey's airport this year.

Troops from the southwestern localities of Ouallam, Tera and Dosso led the assault on Base 101 military airbase, according to a security source and a conflict studies researcher.

'The weapons we're hearing are not the kind that terrorists on motorbikes can carry — the fighting has been non-stop since last night,' one Niamey resident told reporters.

MoreThe TelegraphSoldiers open fire on Niger’s presidential palace in attempted coupYahoo News UKNiger's junta says 'regaining control' after clashes in capitalFinancial TimesNiger says its security forces have ‘contained’ a coup attemptReutersNiger says it regains control of airbase after soldiers mutinyAPDozens of soldiers killed or arrested after an apparent mutiny in Niger’s capital, state TV reportsReutersRival factions stand off in Niger capital after mutineers attack airport, presidency
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