Niger Junta Claims to Thwart 24-Hour Mutiny with Help from Russian Mercenaries– www.breitbart.com
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The military government of Niger, which seized power in a 2023 coup, claimed on Sunday it was able to suppress a violent 24-hour “mutiny” by disgruntled soldiers with the aid of Russian mercenaries.
The unrest began on Friday night with reports of gunfire exchanged between government forces and the insurgents in the vicinity of the main airport in Niamey, the capital city of Niger. The airport complex includes a military base and is located near the presidential palace.
The leaders of the mutiny included young special forces officers who were normally based outside Niamey. They launched simultaneous attacks on the Diori Hamani Airport, the presidential palace, and a national guard camp near the airport, as well as attempting to seize control of Niger’s public TV broadcaster.
The TV station remained off-air until 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, when a news anchor read a statement from Defense Minister Gen. Salifou Mody. The minister said, “a group of soldiers, in breach of military regulations, tried to detain some of their comrades at Base 101 in Niamey and opened fire on certain sensitive sites in the city of Niamey.”
“The prompt reaction of the defense and security forces made it possible to contain this heated moment, and they gradually took back control of these sites,” Mody said.
Reporters in Niamey said that despite these confident pronouncements, the mutineers actually remained in control of Air Base 101 until late Saturday afternoon, and they kept trying to convince senior officers to join their bid to overthrow junta boss Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani.
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