Niger : Comment l'armée et Moscou ont déjoué la mutinerie militaire
The military in Niger thwarted a mutiny on Saturday with the help of its Russian partner, after the recapture of a major military base in the capital Niamey, the scene of intense fighting since Friday night into Saturday.
Niger is ruled by General Abdourahamane Tiani, who seized power in a coup in July 2023 and still holds the ousted head of state, Mohamed Bazoum, captive in the presidential palace. The junta has since turned its back on France and moved closer to Russia, among other countries.
Heavy gunfire exchanged overnight and into the morning in several districts of the capital, including the presidential area and the airport area where the important military base 101 is located, between mutinous soldiers and those who remained loyal, including the presidential guard.
"The presidential guard has regained control of the airbase with the help of the Russians. There are several dead among the mutineers," a diplomatic source in Niamey told AFP.
The recapture of the base was confirmed by two security sources, one of whom mentioned "the end of the mutiny".
On Saturday evening, in a statement, the confederation of the Alliance of Sahel States (Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger - AES) said it had been "betrayed by a group of soldiers involved in a destabilization enterprise", which was ultimately "contained and thwarted" according to them thanks to the "bravery of the loyalist republican forces".
The Russian ambassador to Niamey, Viktor Voropaev, quoted by the Russian state news agency Sputnik Africa, had stated earlier that Niger had requested the help of the Russian paramilitary group Africa Corps "to suppress a mutiny".
The elements of Africa Corps have their headquarters within base 101, which also houses the headquarters of the unified force of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), the confederation that Niger forms with Burkina Faso and Mali.
On Saturday evening, Niger's national television broadcast images of dozens of soldiers who, in unspecified locations, appeared to be surrendering with their hands raised, while others sat on the ground in rows. Some of them appeared to be wounded.
The identity and ranks of these soldiers, among whom are women, have also not been detailed.
In the morning, Defense Minister Salifou Mody had mentioned a "group of soldiers in breach of military regulations" who had sequestered "some of their comrades in the barracks of base 101 in Niamey" and fired on several "sensitive sites" in the city, stating that the army was gradually regaining control.
"There was an attempt to enter the presidential palace by insurgents from the Nigerien armed forces. They were repelled by the presidential guard," a security source based in West Africa told AFP.
“The presidential guard remained loyal” to General Tiani, an African diplomat in Niamey confirmed.
But in the afternoon, the mutineers, whose demands remain unknown, continued to occupy three barracks, including that of base 101.
" Down with the enemies of Niger!"
In the city center where the presidential palace is located, calm had returned by late morning, according to local residents.
On Saturday, access to the presidential palace and the national television station was heavily guarded by the military. Both access roads to the airbase were also blocked, one by tires placed across the road.
A few hundred people demonstrated in a large square in Niamey on Saturday afternoon in response to a call launched by supporters of General Tiani's regime.
“Long live General Tiani”, “Down with the enemies of Niger”, or “Niger will not fall!” could be read on placards.
This is the third time this year that Niamey has experienced exchanges of fire, but in January and June, these were jihadist attacks targeting the international airport and the military base, which were repelled within a few hours, the first of which was already aided by Africa Corps.
The site is sensitive: between December and January, it housed a large shipment of uranium concentrate, held up pending export. No movement of this shipment has been detected since.
Turkey, a partner of Niger, and Algeria, which has recently moved closer to Niamey, expressed their solidarity and condemned the attack.
Niger has been facing jihadist violence since the mid-2010s, which it is struggling to contain, like its neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali, also ruled by juntas.
Commentaires (22)
Si la France a un problème avec la Russie elle doit être en mesure de le gérer comme un grand. Cela ne nous concerne en rien. La Russie bashing dans les groupes de presses françaises ne fait aucun effet aux africains. Qui du reste ont d'autres soucis que de regarder des combats de coqs.
Il est plaisant de constater que l'éveil africain déconcerte plus certains que d’autres. Rien n'est acquis que par soi même. Si le Niger décide de contracter avec une agence privée militaire russe c'est son droit le plus absolu à l'efficacité. Cet agence privée est payée, sinon aucun russe ne viendra se battre pour les beaux yeux d'un nègre dans le chaud sahel. Cela n'existe pas. Ils facturent et ils sont payés. Au finish seul le résultat compte. Cela aurait été une autre agence aussi ce serait pareil.
Rien d'ideologique, tout dans le concret. Nous sommes dans le concret.
Le Niger n accepte plus un président Vallet proxy de Macron au Palais.
Mais pourquoi les pays africains continuent encore à accepter le diktat et les multiples tentatives de déstabilisation venus de France.
Il est temps que les africains aussi partent semer le chaos et la mort sur le sol français.Ils peuvent aussi s appuyer sur les ennemis de la République française comme les indépendantistes basques,les associations de narcos trafiquants telles que la DZ Mafia etc etc.
Y en a marre que des agents de la DGSE viennent encore foutre le bordel en Afrique,comme le faisaient Bob Denard et les colons qui ont violenté nos ancêtres.
Le petit capitaine que la France a utilisé (Ben Ide, selon certaines sources) a pris la fuite. Un petit con qui rêvait de prendre le pouvoir. Et même en prenant la fuite, il a laissé tomber le discours pré écrit qu'il devait tenir. Un con qui rêvait de déclarer qu'il n'est pas engagé dans les accords de l'AES (l'éclatement de cet embryon de regroupement de pays africains est la principale obsession de la France, à ce jour). Le petit capitaine expliquerait peut-être, comme Macky Sall, que reprendre ses ressources naturelles et renvoyer l'armée française est un "nationalisme mal placé ". Il dirait que c'est du populisme, de la démagogie. La France lui a déjà préparé les mots dont il devra habituer sa langue, et parmi lesquels il y a sûrement "nouvel ordre mondial ". Le petit idiot rêvait de faire sa première visite en France, être reçu par Macron, et annoncer des accords de partenariat donnant donnant.
Parfois, je me demande si les idiots africains proxy de la France ont un cerveau.
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.
Se connecter
Commentez avec votre profil, votre photo, et soyez averti des réponses.