2026 Nigerien coup attempt

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2026 Nigerien coup attempt
Part of the Coup Belt
Diori Hamani International Airport, close to where clashes broke out
Date 28–29 August 2026 (1 day) Location Niamey, Niger Result Coup failure[1]
Belligerents
Niger National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland Africa Corps (Russia)	Armed Forces for the Restoration of the Fatherland[2][3][4]
Commanders and leaders
Abdourahamane Tiani Salifou Modi	Decentralized leadership
Units involved
National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland Presidential Guard  Russian Armed Forces Africa Corps	Armed Forces for the Restoration of the Fatherland Dissident factions of the Niger Armed Forces

From 28 to 29 August 2026, a mutinous faction of the Nigerien Armed Forces calling themselves the Armed Forces for the Restoration of the Fatherland attempted a coup against President Abdourahamane Tiani in the country's capital Niamey. Gunfire and explosions were reported near the Diori Hamani International Airport, the Presidential Palace, and headquarters of the Office of Radio and Television of Niger. The coup attempt, which state media said was repelled, is believed to have been carried out by young officers within the Nigerien military opposed to the rule of President Tiani.

Niger has undergone six coups d'etat since gaining independence from France in 1960. The most recent coup in 2023 ousted Mohamed Bazoum, the country's first democratically elected leader to directly succeed a similarly democratically elected leader. It led to the installation of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), a military junta headed by Abdourahamane Tiani, who later became the country's president in 2025. The coup, which occurred in the context of a larger series of coups in Africa, triggered a diplomatic confrontation with the transnational West African organization of ECOWAS, of which Niger was a part.^[5][6]

Paul Melly, an expert on Francophone Africa at Chatham House, stated that many young members of the officer corps are not content with Tiani's rule, stating that "the young officers, if it is them, would be saying: 'Three years ago it was getting better, but look at things now'". In recent years, the country has seen an uptick in insurgent activity from the Islamic State's Sahel Province, as well as from al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin. Both groups had launched attacks on the Diori Hamani International Airport in the year prior.^[7][8]

A major issue within the Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN) leading up to the mutiny was the discrepancy between the Presidential Guard (GP) and average FAN units. Prior to seizing power in 2023, Tiani was in charge of the Presidential Guard for twelve years.^[9] His closeness with the GP meant that the unit received better equipment and better locations compared to average FAN units on the frontlines against ISSP and JNIM, which suffered heavy casualties.^[10]

Over the night of 28–29 August,^[11][12] explosions and gunfire were heard in the Nigerien capital of Niamey, continuing through the morning.^[8][13] Engagements occurred near the Diori Hamani International Airport, the Presidential Palace, and the headquarters of the Office of Radio and Television of Niger.^[14] Witnesses reported a "heavy exchange of gunfire",^[15] and initial reports suggested there was an attempted coup d'état.^[16] They fired on "sensitive sites" for hours, including an air force base near the airport known as Base 101, which hosts Russia's Africa Corps paramilitary organization and command of the Alliance of Sahel States, composed of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali.^[17][12] The coup plotters reportedly held Africa Corps mercenaries hostage,^[18] and videos online showed armored vehicles being deployed to reinforce the area near the airport.^[19] Russia's Africa Corps provided aerial and ground support to the Nigerien government.^[20] The Republican Guard, another well-armed unit in the army, was not known to have taken a side until the end of the coup attempt.^[10]

The mutineers also attacked the Nigerien presidency, but this attack was repulsed.^[21] Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a Nigerien lawmaker and AES parliament member, later claimed that security forces had regained control of the airport; security forces also stated that "terrorists" attacked the airport and attempted to breach the presidential security perimeter,^[19][22] and that some attackers were "neutralized", while others fled,^[23] and that security forces had launched search operations.^[13] The Nigerien Armed Forces, as well as armored vehicles were deployed to the capital,^[11][19] and the government of Niger issued statements on X and Facebook, urging calm and warned against spreading unverified rumors while security forces continue their operations.^{[24][25][better source needed][26]} Multiple civilians were injured, though an official casualty toll has not been issued.^[16][27] The signal to Télé Sahel was also cut off during the attack.^[28][29]

A statement began circulating on August 29 from a group calling themselves the Armed Forces for the Restoration of the Homeland (FARP), and saying Tiani was no longer in power. The assault involved soldiers from Ouallam, Téra, and Dosso in the southwest of the country;^[19] the government stated that it was undertaken by young officers disgruntled with the regime of Abdourahamane Tiani. A unit from Dosso who fought against Tiani's forces was called Agali.^[10] A source for the Financial Times stated that they seized control of the airport and the Turkish drones present there, state TV, and national radio. However, no official communication was ever made by the putschists, making their goals unknown.^[10] The FT also reported that a diplomat stated that the government had been able to reassert control of downtown Niamey.^[7]

By the evening, according to security, members of Niger's Presidential Guard, with support from Russian forces had recaptured the air base, killing some of the mutineers.^[30][31]

After briefly suspending operations, state television resumed broadcasting later in the day, where General Salifou Modi stated that the situation was under control.^[32] The Nigerien government requested assistance from Russia's Africa Corps,^[33] and Niger's presidential guard later regained control of Base 101.^[34][35] On 30 August, Algeria deployed military aircraft including four Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets to Niamey, which Niger described as "strategic support".^[36]

In an interview with RFI, Sahel expert Yvan Guaichoua said that the Russian intervention was crucial to keeping Tiani's regime in power, saying "I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that the Russians saved the day."^[10]