Niger said it had regained control of a key military airbase in the capital Niamey after an attack by mutinous soldiers on Saturday (August 29, 2026), in the latest challenge to military ruler Abdourahamane Tiani as his government struggles to contain a jihadist insurgency.
Russian and Italian forces are also stationed there. Tiani had not made any public appearances as of Sunday (August 30, 2026) morning. Niger, a West African nation rich in uranium, oil and gold resources, has been ruled by military officers since a July 2023 coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Niger state media said late on Saturday (August 29, 2026) that the attack involved “hundreds of disaffected soldiers” and that fighting lasted for several hours as forces loyal to military leader Tiani tried to regain control. The Presidential Guard rallied to Tiani’s defence, three security sources said. Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force, received a request for assistance in neutralising the mutineers in Niamey, Viktor Voropaev, the Russian ambassador to Niger, said on Saturday in an interview with TASS news agency.
Analysts and security sources say frustration with the government is mounting within frontline units, creating another vulnerability for Mr. Tiani beyond the insurgents themselves. Since seizing power, Mr. Tiani’s government has shifted away from Western partners, deepened ties with Russia and broken with the regional ECOWAS bloc.
