Niger’s national television station went off air on Saturday after a night of heavy gunfire in parts of the capital Niamey, including around a military base near the city’s airport which has been attacked twice this year by jihadists.
A security source subsequently confirmed to AFP that the presidential guard had repelled an attempted incursion by “insurgents from within the armed forces” at the presidential palace in Niamey.
Heavy gunfire was heard in several neighbourhoods of the capital throughout the night, notably in the city centre near the presidential palace, but also in the airport area where there is a major military base.
The state television signal was cut for just over an hour before being restored at about 10am local time.
The defence ministry said the armed forces were progressively retaking control of sites targeted in the attack, according to a statement read on state television after it resumed broadcasting.
Niger has been ruled for three years by a military junta that has struggled to contain jihadist violence, which has blighted the west African country for around a decade.
source: commonspace.eu with Bangkok Post (Bangkok) and agencies
photo: Niger Army (Archive picture)
