Mutinous Niger troops hit airport and presidency in Niamey
What's new: The defense ministry said loyalist forces were retaking key sites, but security sources said the airport was still contested.
Mutinous soldiers attacked Niger's airport and the presidency in Niamey early Saturday, setting off hours of gunfire and explosions and briefly knocking state television and radio off the air. By late morning, Niger's defense ministry said the armed forces were progressively regaining control of the sites targeted overnight. But security sources said mutineers were still present at the airport and the broader situation remained unclear. The assault is the latest challenge to junta leader Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power in a 2023 coup. The attack involved troops from a base in Niamey as well as soldiers from Ouallam, Tera and Dosso, according to the report. Niger has struggled to curb jihadist violence despite the military government's pledges.