'Soldiers attempted mutiny': Niger's def min after gunfire, blasts rock Niamey
The government of Niger reported that a mutiny attempt by soldiers at the Niamey international airport has been brought under control. The incident follows a period of political instability and increased jihadi violence in the Sahel region.
Why it matters
The attempted mutiny underscores the fragility of the current military junta's control and the ongoing security crisis in West Africa.
The Niger government said a group of soldiers had attempted to stage a mutiny and that the situation was now under control after sustained gunfire and explosions were heard overnight into Saturday in Niamey, the capital of the West African country.According to defence minister General Salifou Mody, the soldiers took several officers hostage at Niamey’s Diori Hamani International Airport, which houses a key military air base known as Base 101, as well as in the Plateau administrative district, home to the presidential palace and other key institutions.Mody described the alleged mutiny attempt as a “break with discipline and military regulations.”As the attack unfolded, state broadcaster RTN halted its live transmission for several hours before resuming its broadcast.The incident marked the third attack this year on the international airport, following two earlier assaults by jihadi rebels.
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