Niger’s military government has accused France of orchestrating a failed mutiny that rocked the capital, Niamey, last week. France denied any involvement in the events in its former colony, but the accusation indicates that tensions between them remain high. Shortly after midnight on August 29, renegade soldiers targeted Base 101, a major military facility inside Niamey’s international airport complex.
Authorities said the mutineers detained some of their comrades and opened fire at “certain sensitive sites” in the capital. Fighting spread to the presidential palace and temporarily knocked the state broadcaster off air, with explosions and gunfire echoing around Niamey for hours until Niger’s army, helped by Russian paramilitary fighters known as the Africa Corps, contained the mutiny. State media said hundreds of soldiers took part, with dozens killed or arrested.
The mutiny happened three years after Abdourahamane Tchiani seized power in a coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, saying the elected government had failed to contain armed groups. However, violent unrest has persisted, while governance grievances and economic challenges remain. As with previous rounds of unrest, Niger’s military authorities blamed France and other West African countries.
The Niger Council of Ministers, which functions as the cabinet since the 2023 coup, said a “substantial body of evidence has been compiled regarding this attack and Niger reserves the right to bring the matter before international courts”. Details were not provided. Niger also accused a number of regional countries of being involved, including the regional economic bloc ECOWAS.
Benin’s government, one of the countries accused, rejected the accusations. In contrast, Niger thanked Russia, Algeria and allies in the Sahel region – Burkina Faso and Mali – for their support. France dismissed the allegations as “pure fantasy”.
Niger has since ordered the withdrawal of about 1,500 French troops, expelled the French ambassador, revoked a number of bilateral military agreements and suspended French state-funded stations, such as France 24 and RFI, from broadcasting there. Henri Nsaibia, West Africa senior analyst at Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), said the Nigerien armed forces’ fight against armed groups linked to ISIL and al-Qaeda could be weakened following the mutiny. Niger’s security situation is facing several challenges.
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