Star Metro - Niamey back to normal after soldier mutiny

Intense fighting took place overnight from Friday to Saturday, with the army and its Russian Africa Corps allies managing to take back control late in the day.

Mutineers notably tried to storm the presidential compound. Several were killed, according to a security source, while others were arrested.

Television pictures showed soldiers surrendering.

Niger has been led by General Abdourahamane Tiani since a coup in July 2023. He has moved the country closer to Russia and away from Western partners, notably former colonial power France.

On Sunday morning, access to the airbase at the airport, where the mutineers had barricaded themselves in, and to the presidency, were open again, residents said.

Local people were going about their business and shops that were shut on Saturday have reopened, as had Niamey's main market.

"We had a hellish night on Friday. This morning, it's like paradise because yesterday evening (Saturday) was very pleasant," said one resident in the Talladje area near the airbase.

A major security operation was nonetheless being maintained with soldiers screening people entering the presidency with metal detectors.

Vehicles mounted with machine guns and soldiers were also posted along approach roads to the presidency. A similar deployment was seen around the airport.

"What happened was between us Nigeriens," said one shopkeeper from the Route Tchanga neighbourhood near the airport.

"From now on, such serious events must never happen again. The country is already facing terrorism."

- Prey to jihadists -

The exchange of fire was the third such incident this year but in January and June involved jihadists attacking the international airport and airbase.

They were pushed back in hours. Russian troops helped in the first incident.

Niger has been hit by jihadist violence for more than a decade and, like its neighbours Burkina Faso and Mali, is struggling to contain it.

Both countries are also run by the military and have close links to Russia.

Although Niger has turned its back on almost all previous Western allies, Italy maintains a couple of hundred soldiers in the country to train Nigerien forces.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Sunday said on X that he was "closely following developments in Niger following the attacks".

He added that the Italian military personnel there "are well" and continued to do their work.

"The stability of Niger is fundamental to the security of the entire Sahel region, crucial also for countering illicit trafficking and irregular migratory flows," Tajani said.

A.Rogen--SMC