Clashes in Niger's Niamey after troops attempt to storm presidential palace

Clashes in Niger's Niamey after troops attempt to storm presidential palace.

Key points

• According to An African diplomat in Niamey, for now, the presidential guard was still loyal to ruler General Abdourahamane Tiani.
• One local resident informed AFP that there was "heavy gunfire and explosions" at Base 101 in Niamey, a report confirmed by a number of other witnesses.
• As well as 22 attackers, according to the defence ministry, in June, at least 11 soldiers and two civilians were killed.
• The EIS and JNIM are additionally active in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, allies of Niger and ruled by military juntas that seized power in coups.
• National TV station Tele Sahel went off air for just over an hour, with a black screen replacing normal programming both via satellite and online.

Clashes in Niger's Niamey after troops attempt to storm presidential palace. AFP Published August 29, 2026 Updated August 29, 2026 05: 08pm. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

After a night of heavy gunfire in parts of the city, clashes erupted in Niger's capital on Saturday between the presidential guard and elements of the armed forces.

Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain terrorism. It has blighted the west African country for around a decade.

"There was an attempt by insurgents from the Nigerien armed forces to enter the presidential palace, " a security source informed AFP. "They were pushed back by the presidential guard. Exchanges of gunfire are continuing at the palace."

For context, the military remarked it was "gradually regaining control" after the mutineers took soldiers hostage at a base next to the capital's airport.

In an official note read out on public television and signed by Defence Minister General Salifou Mody, the authorities called on the public to "remain calm and freely go about their business".

Gunfire began in the early hours of Saturday, prompting the military to matter a statement on its social media pages urging residents to stay calm and "avoid sharing unverified information".

"Our defence and security forces have been mobilised for the defence of the homeland, " the statement remarked.

National TV station Tele Sahel went off air for just over an hour, with a black screen replacing normal programming both via satellite and online. It was restored around 10am (2pm PKT). Soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace and national television, residents continued.

For context, the first shots were heard at regarding 1am local time and continued until daybreak, according to a video published by a local journalist filming the area around the airport. Another local resident remarked he heard "bursts of gunfire" at concerning 7am local time.

"I went to obtain credit for my phone. I saw a military vehicle heading towards the base that had to turn back, " he continued. "The weapons we're hearing are not the kind that terrorists on motorbikes can carry. The fighting has been non-stop since last night."

Another resident in the west of Niamey remarked he heard sporadic small arms fire at concerning 5am.

For context, a number of social media posts additionally documented shooting and explosions in the city, particularly in the administrative area where the presidential palace and national television station are located. Videos online indicated armoured vehicles deployed to reinforce the neighbourhood near the airport.

Niamey airport has been targeted twice this year by terrorists; first by the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) in January, then in late June by their rivals the Group for the Backing of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), the Sahel branch of Al-Qaeda.

For context, the groups not only target civilians and the military but are additionally struggling for dominance over each other in the Sahel, and especially in Niger.

Twenty assailants were killed and four soldiers wounded in the January assault, authorities remarked at the time.

Tiani, head of the military regime that emerged from a coup in July 2023, spoke in January of "a flaw in the system" that "enabled the attack", whose "objective was to destroy all of the air capabilities" of the army.

As well as 22 attackers, according to the defence ministry, in June, at least 11 soldiers and two civilians were killed. Both attacks were repelled by the army.

Notably, the EIS and JNIM are additionally active in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, allies of Niger and ruled by military juntas that seized power in coups.

Meanwhile, the three countries quit the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) bloc, turned their backs on traditional Western partners in the fight against terrorism, especially France, and sought closer ties with Russia.

Air Force Base 101, located within the international airport complex, is home to the headquarters of Niamey's Russian Africa Corps partners and the command of the unified force of the Alliance of Sahel States, of which Niger is a member with Burkina Faso and Mali. The site is sensitive.

Between December and January, it hosted a sizeable shipment of uranium concentrate. It was held up while awaiting export. No movement of the shipment has been identified since.

In short, clashes in Niger' s Niamey after troops attempt to storm presidential palace is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.