Niger's Defence Ministry foils military coup attempt

Niger’s Defence Ministry stated on Saturday that the government had successfully foiled a coup attempt by a group of soldiers that occurred overnight in Niamey. “On the night of 28-29 August 2026, a group of personnel in violation of military regulations attempted to forcibly detain several of their colleagues at a barracks at Base 101 in Niamey,” the ministry said in an official statement broadcast on national television. The ministry stated that they also opened fire on a number of strategic facilities in the capital. In response to the emergency situation, Niger’s defence and security forces acted swiftly “to contain this act of insubordination and gradually succeeded in restoring control over the facilities (that were attacked).”