Nigerien government forces have restored control of the military airbase at Niamey’s Diori Hamani airport after a mutiny by soldiers on 29 August. The unrest centred on Base 101 at the airport, a strategic site for both military and civil aviation activity, while airport operations continued normally despite fighting around the capital.
Armed clashes broke out near the presidency and other sensitive locations in Niamey before loyal units pushed back the mutineers. By the following day, residents described the capital as calm and roadblocks were being removed. The defence ministry said soldiers had seized comrades at the Base 101 barracks and opened fire on sensitive sites, while loyal forces were progressively restoring control.
Reporting from the city indicated the presidential guard took part in the response, with some outlets also referring to Russian personnel assisting in the operation. Details on that involvement varied and were not independently confirmed across all accounts. For aviation, the main immediate impact appears limited: Niger’s civil aviation authority maintained that traffic at Diori Hamani was continuing normally, and no broader commercial disruption was clearly established.