Niger’s Capital Settles Back Into Routine After Attempted Military Coup

The unrest erupted in the pre-dawn hours of Saturday, with heavy clashes breaking out before authorities rounded up dozens of soldiers involved in the uprising.

A number of mutineers lost their lives while attempting to breach the presidential palace.

According to reports, the rebelling troops were driven by frustration over the government’s inability to contain ongoing militant violence across the country.

This marks the third episode of armed unrest in Niamey this year, though the two earlier incidents were distinct in nature, both stemming from jihadist assaults on a major military installation located at the capital’s airport.

Speaking on Sunday, Niamey resident Hassane Assoumane offered his take on what the mutiny signals:

“As soon as there’s a mutiny, it means that things aren’t going well,” Niamey resident Hassane Assoumane, said on Sunday.

“It means that perhaps the soldiers have something to demand, and now it’s up to the current authorities to find a solution: whether they try to come to an agreement with the mutineers or whether they opt for another course of action, it’s for them to decide.”

General Abdourahmane Tiani, who seized power in a coup three years ago, had vowed at the time to strengthen the nation’s security.

Related: Niger Bans French Media Outlets, Faces Condemnation

Since then, however, his administration has continued to face difficulty containing attacks carried out by militants linked to the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda.

As part of a broader realignment, Tiani severed longstanding ties with France, Niger’s former colonial ruler, turning instead to alternative partners such as Iran, Turkey, and Russia.

Notably, Russia’s Africa Corps mercenary unit is reported to have played a role in helping put down Saturday’s mutiny.