Niger coup attempt: Gunfire, explosions rock Niamey as soldiers revolt

Niger Republic was plunged into fresh tension on Saturday, August 29, 2026, after a group of soldiers reportedly launched an uprising in the capital, Niamey, attacking strategic military and government locations in what authorities described as a mutiny and sources close to the military government characterised as a failed coup attempt.

Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported around the Diori Hamani International Airport, the adjoining Base 101 military facility and areas close to the Presidential Palace, as security forces moved to contain the uprising.

Niger’s Defence Minister, General Salifou Mody, said the soldiers had broken military discipline, attempted to detain some of their colleagues at Base 101 and opened fire on sensitive locations in the capital.

According to Mody, loyal defence and security forces responded rapidly, preventing the mutiny from spreading and gradually restoring control over the affected areas.

The minister said the authorities had mobilised security personnel to contain the situation and protect key government and military installations.

However, security sources said the confrontation was more serious than an isolated disciplinary incident, with the soldiers reportedly attempting to move against the country’s leadership.

A security source cited in international reports said the mutineers attempted to enter the Presidential Palace, but were repelled by members of the presidential guard loyal to military leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

The reported attempt to reach the presidential compound heightened concerns that the incident could develop into a broader challenge to the military government.

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The unrest also affected Niger’s state broadcaster, with television and radio transmissions reportedly interrupted during the early stages of the confrontation.

State broadcasting later resumed, carrying the government’s account that mutinous soldiers had attacked sensitive sites and that loyal security forces had moved to contain them.

Residents in parts of Niamey reported hearing sustained exchanges of gunfire, while security forces were deployed around strategic locations, including the airport, military installations and government facilities.

Authorities subsequently appealed to residents to remain calm and continue with their normal activities, insisting that security forces were in control of the situation.

However, reports indicated that the situation remained fluid, with some of the soldiers allegedly barricaded at Base 101 while security forces worked to fully secure the facility.

The identities of all the soldiers involved, their precise demands and the extent of their support within the armed forces had not been fully established as of Saturday.

There were also no independently verified casualty figures immediately available.

The latest incident is particularly significant because Niger has been under military rule since July 2023, when General Tchiani led the overthrow of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

Tchiani subsequently became the head of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), the military body that has governed the country since the coup.

The new uprising represents a potentially serious internal challenge to the junta, particularly as Niger continues to face attacks from jihadist groups operating across the country’s borders with Mali, Burkina Faso and Nigeria.

Niger’s armed forces have been fighting insurgent groups linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State in several parts of the country, with military units frequently deployed to remote and conflict-affected areas.

The security situation has been one of the central issues used by the military authorities to justify their continued hold on power.

The latest unrest also comes amid major changes in Niger’s foreign and defence relationships.

Since the 2023 coup, the military government has distanced itself from France and several Western partners while strengthening ties with Russia and deepening security cooperation with neighbouring military-led governments in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have also formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after breaking away from the regional Economic Community of West African States.

Despite those changes, persistent jihadist attacks have continued to pose a major challenge to the three Sahel countries.

The strategic importance of the locations targeted during Saturday’s unrest also added to the seriousness of the incident.

Base 101, located near Diori Hamani International Airport, is an important military facility and has previously been targeted by armed groups.

The airport itself has also faced security threats in 2026, highlighting the vulnerability of strategic infrastructure in the capital.

The latest confrontation therefore has implications beyond the immediate political crisis, as any prolonged instability in Niamey could affect the government’s ability to coordinate military operations against insurgent groups across the country.

The Nigerien government has maintained that loyal security forces are restoring order and has urged citizens to reject rumours and remain calm.

Meanwhile, investigations are expected to focus on the soldiers involved, their motives, their possible demands and whether other elements within the armed forces supported the attempted uprising.

While the government has so far characterised the incident as a mutiny and breach of military discipline, reports from sources close to the regime have described it as an attempted coup.

The competing descriptions reflect the political sensitivity of the incident, coming three years after the military itself seized power through a coup.

For now, Nigerien authorities say security forces remain in control of the capital as efforts continue to secure affected military facilities and determine the full circumstances surrounding the uprising.

Niger coup attempt: Gunfire, explosions rock Niamey as soldiers revolt

Xenophobic attacks: Ghana rejects MTN’s $1.8m donation for affected citizen

The Ghanaian government has declined a GH¢20 million ($1.8 million) donation from MTN Ghana intended to support Ghanaians affected by recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa, saying adequate funds have already been provided for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration exercise.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the decision in a statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, explaining that the government had already made sufficient financial provisions to assist Ghanaians being evacuated from South Africa and those returning home.

The ministry said it became aware of the proposed donation following comments attributed to MTN Ghana Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, regarding the company’s plans to establish a support fund for affected Ghanaians.

While appreciating MTN Ghana for its willingness to assist, the government said it had decided not to accept the offer because funding for the humanitarian response was already in place.

The ministry said the government’s position had previously been communicated directly to Yamson and MTN Ghana’s Chief Executive Officer during their meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on August 14.

The government said its decision was not intended to discourage MTN or diminish the value of the company’s gesture. Rather, it said the existing arrangements meant additional financial support from the telecommunications company was not required for the current evacuation programme.

MTN Ghana had reportedly considered setting aside GH¢10 million for immediate assistance to Ghanaians affected by the violence before increasing the proposed amount to GH¢20 million to provide more comprehensive support.

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The expanded intervention was expected to assist returnees with rebuilding their livelihoods after their arrival in Ghana, rather than limiting the support to their immediate evacuation needs.

The renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa have raised concerns about the safety and wellbeing of Ghanaian nationals living in the country. Ghanaian authorities have consequently been working to evacuate citizens who feel unsafe or have been directly affected by the violence.

The Ghanaian government said it remains committed to providing humanitarian assistance and financial reintegration support to every Ghanaian evacuated from South Africa as a result of the attacks.

Authorities also said the evacuation programme would be properly accounted for, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promising to publish a comprehensive breakdown of its total cost once the exercise is concluded.

According to the ministry, the planned disclosure is aimed at strengthening transparency and accountability in the management of public funds used for the operation.

The government also moved to reassure international businesses operating in Ghana that its decision to decline MTN’s offer would not affect its relationship with foreign-owned companies.

The ministry said Ghana would continue to support international companies and maintain a favourable business environment for businesses operating in the country, irrespective of their countries of origin.

MTN Ghana’s proposed intervention was part of broader private-sector concern over the plight of Ghanaians affected by the violence. The company had expressed its willingness to support citizens who were returning home after facing insecurity in South Africa.

The government, however, maintained that the welfare of Ghanaians remains its utmost priority and that existing government resources would be used to support those affected throughout the evacuation and reintegration process.

The decision to decline the donation therefore reflects the government’s assessment that the current funding arrangements are sufficient, rather than a rejection of MTN Ghana’s willingness to assist citizens affected by the crisis.

Xenophobic attacks: Ghana rejects MTN’s $1.8m donation for affected citizen

47 Dead, 22 Injured as Gangs Target Displaced Persons Camp in Haiti Church

The United Nations has confirmed that at least 47 people were killed and 22 others injured in an overnight gang attack on the hillside community of Kenscoff, near Port-au-Prince. The assault, which targeted a displaced persons camp sheltering inside a church, has sparked outrage among residents who accuse security forces of failing to protect them from repeated violence. The United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti warned that casualty estimates could still change as searches continue.

According to Kenscoff Mayor Massillon Jean, armed men raided the community late Sunday, setting fire to homes and targeting a displaced persons camp located inside a church. “The bandits raided a displaced persons camp located in a church. They executed several people. There are fatalities and dozens of wounded. Some people were abducted by the criminals,” Jean told the AFP news agency. Residents described the attack as a “night of terror.” Wails filled the air in Kenscoff as survivors found the bodies of friends and family strewn on the streets early Monday. One woman kept yelling, “They killed my son!” as people nearby tried to comfort her. Local media reported that several houses were set on fire, including the home of Dr. Jean William Pape, a leading public health expert and founder of the Gheskio centres, which provide healthcare and HIV treatment in Haiti.

Kenscoff holds a strategic position overlooking routes into Petion-Ville—home to several embassies, upscale hotels, and the temporary seat of government—as well as a major road from the capital into southern Haiti. Control over Kenscoff would give armed groups another access route into Petion-Ville, where the transitional government has been relocating ministries. The community has suffered a dozen attacks by armed gangs since last year, forcing thousands to flee their homes. Attacks in Kenscoff over two months in early 2025 saw more than 260 people killed and 200 homes destroyed or set on fire, forcing 3,000 people to flee, according to UN estimates.

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Mayor Massillon blamed the attack on members of Viv Ansanm, a powerful gang coalition that the U.S. government designated as a foreign terrorist organisation last year. The gangs are seeking to consolidate their presence in Kenscoff, a strategic area due to its proximity to the Southeast department and the city of Jacmel, which had remained relatively unaffected by the violence plaguing Port-au-Prince. Since setting their sights on Kenscoff with their first assault on January 27, 2025, members of Viv Ansanm have tried to reach its geographic centre. On Sunday, they finally did so with an attack that unfolded in several regions of the commune, near the mayor’s office and a police substation.

Even as Haiti’s government decried a “heinous attack” and promised to reinforce security, residents demanded the local police chief step down, saying officers failed to protect people killed just minutes from the police station. “Kenscoff will not be abandoned,” the prime minister’s office said on social media. “The government’s authority will be restored, without weakness and without delay.” The office of Prime Minister Alix Didier Fils-Aimé expressed “profound compassion” for the victims and their families, announcing that all security forces were on “maximum alert” and reinforcements were being deployed. “My family are victims,” said Coriolan Kendy, standing by his cousin’s body, lying on the road in a blood-stained sheet. “People in Kenscoff are suffering, and the government is to blame.” Another resident, Orisme, pleaded for the prime minister’s support: “We live in humiliation and they do nothing for us.” Some residents said several dozen police had tried to rebuff the armed men during the night, and some were injured. They added that they did not identify gang members among the dead. National police chief Vladimir Paraison told reporters during a visit to Kenscoff later in the day: “The police never gave up.”

The attack may deepen concerns over Haiti’s ability to hold an election in December, its first in a decade. Successive governments have repeatedly postponed elections as armed gangs have expanded their influence. Gangs control an estimated 70% of Port-au-Prince, with Viv Ansanm repeatedly targeting nearby Kenscoff. Gang violence has displaced a record 1.5 million people across Haiti—roughly 14% of the population—where more than 3,100 people were reported killed from January to June and another 1,189 injured, according to UN statistics. According to UN data, violence in Haiti caused at least 2,310 deaths and 1,106 injuries in the first five months of the year. There were also at least 99 kidnappings; 699 people—especially women and girls—were victims of sexual violence; and hundreds of minors remain in the hands of human trafficking networks. The poorest country in the Americas, Haiti has long suffered from deep-seated political instability, corruption, natural disasters, and gang violence. The UN estimates that approximately 5.8 million Haitians—about 52% of the population—are experiencing food insecurity, while the number of displaced people reached 1.4 million last year, an unprecedented level.

The UN-backed Gang Suppression Force (FRG), which is mandated to help police fight gangs and replace a previous underfunded and ineffective structure, aims to reach a capacity of more than 5,500 troops this autumn. A spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions on whether the troops were reinforcing Kenscoff security. The attack comes less than a week after the U.S. government deported more than 160 people to Haiti for the first time since the Trump administration won a legal battle to end Temporary Protected Status for some 350,000 Haitians. Haiti’s government has said some of the deportees included TPS holders. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security said those deported Friday included several gang members with criminal records ranging from assault to drug trafficking.

47 Dead, 22 Injured as Gangs Target Displaced Persons Camp in Haiti Church