Niger says it has regained control of key military air base after attack by rebel soldiers

Niger said it had regained control of a key military air base in the capital Niamey after an attack by rebel soldiers on Saturday, presenting the latest challenge to military leader Abdurahmane Tijani as his government struggles to contain a jihadist insurgency.

The attack highlighted tensions within Niger’s armed forces, which have suffered a series of battlefield losses in fighting against the West African branches of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

Explosions and gunfire echoed through Niamey early Saturday, including in the area of ​​the military air base and around the presidential palace.

The base, located in the same complex as the civilian airport in Niamey, is used to house military aircraft and drones, as well as counter-terrorism units of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which consists of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.

Both Russian and Italian forces are stationed there.

The African Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary formation, has received a request for help in neutralizing rebels in Niamey, Russian Ambassador to Niger Viktor Voropayev told TASS on Saturday.

Before Saturday’s attack, the air base had already been targeted twice this year – in January by a regional branch of the Islamic State, and in June by a regional branch of al-Qaeda.

Niger’s state media reported late Saturday that “hundreds of disgruntled soldiers” took part in the attack and that fighting lasted for several hours as forces loyal to military leader Tijani tried to regain control.

Footage was also broadcast, purporting to show rebels surrendering.

Reuters could not independently confirm the state media report.

The presidential guard came to Tiani’s defense, three security sources said. Tijani had not appeared in public until Sunday morning.

Niger, a West African country rich in uranium, oil, and gold, has been under military rule since a coup in July 2023, when President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown.

Sahel leaders make no progress in fight against jihadists

Tijani, like his colleagues in Burkina Faso and Mali, has failed to make progress in the fight against jihadists.

The Islamic State affiliate has carried out multiple deadly attacks on the military in southwest Niger, including one earlier this month that killed 18 soldiers.

The mutiny involved soldiers stationed in Niamey, as well as members of the army from the areas of Oualam, Tera and Dosso, where the army suffered heavy losses.

Analysts and security sources say that dissatisfaction with the government is growing among frontline units, which for Tiani represents an additional weakness, in addition to the jihadist insurgency itself.

Since taking power, Tijani’s government has distanced itself from Western partners, deepened ties with Russia and broken with the regional bloc ECOWAS.

The unrest comes as authorities tighten control over the uranium sector, after seizing assets of French company Orano. Niger was an important supplier of nuclear fuel to Europe and, when the facilities were fully operational, provided about 15 percent of Orano’s total uranium reserves.

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