MUTINY ROCKS NIAMEY AS YOUNG OFFICERS TURN ON JUNTA
Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked Niger’s capital from 1am local time. The targets were clear. The presidency. The airport. The national television station.
State broadcaster Tele Sahel went off air. Soldiers blocked access to the palace.
Young officers and special forces recruits are reportedly behind the mutiny. They have taken over key installations.
The junta has called for calm. Security forces have been mobilised. But the situation remains fluid.
Air Force Base 101, which houses Russian Africa Corps partners and the AES joint command, was also targeted.
This is the third major attack on Niamey this year. Jihadists struck in January and June. Now it is soldiers turning on soldiers.
France will not rest. They did this before. Thomas Sankara. Blaise Compaoré. They convinced young soldiers to work against their own government. The pattern is old. The tactics are the same.
Niger has seized uranium assets from French company Orano. France has lost influence in the Sahel. Now the pushback is coming from within the barracks.
If young officers can storm the presidency and cut off state TV, how much control does the junta really have. And if France is behind this, how long before the Sahel burns again.