Niger’s army seizes weapons cache, military equipment after quelling mutiny
Niger’s Defense and Security Forces seized a large cache of weapons and military equipment after quelling a mutiny at Air Base 101 in Niamey.
According to Niger’s national television, the recovered equipment included 34 Toyota pickup trucks fitted with mounted weapons, two light armored vehicles, one of which had been destroyed, as well as dozens of motorcycles, weapons, accessories and other military equipment, Xinhua reported.
Meanwhile, Niger’s Forces vives de la Nation, a grouping representing various sectors of society, organized a rally Wednesday at the Place de la Concertation in Niamey.
Members of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, government officials and thousands of residents attended the rally. Organizers said the event was held to demonstrate support for the national authorities and reaffirm their commitment to Niger’s sovereignty and national refoundation.
Niger’s Defense Ministry announced Saturday that it had thwarted an attempted mutiny involving a group of soldiers at Air Base 101 in Niamey.
According to a ministry statement, a group of soldiers “who had broken with military discipline and regulations” attempted to detain some of their fellow soldiers at the base and opened fire at several sensitive locations in the capital.
The ministry said the rapid response by defense and security forces brought the mutiny under control and allowed them to regain control of the affected sites.
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