Failed Niger Coup: Alliance of Sahel States Slams “Act of Betrayal”

The Alliance of Sahel States (AES) has fiercely denounced a failed coup attempt in the Republic of Niger, praising loyalist government troops for swiftly crushing the internal rebellion.

In its first official reaction to Saturday’s violent mutiny in Niamey, the regional security bloc—composed of ECOWAS breakaway nations Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger—condemned the assault as an outright “act of betrayal.”

The alliance declared that the renegade soldiers who launched a coordinated strike on Niamey’s critical Air Base 101 acted directly against the interests of the state and its citizens.

According to an official statement, the AES “remains fully committed and mobilised alongside Niger, which shares its determination to continue the struggle for sovereignty and peace.”

The bloc also issued a stern warning against foreign and domestic disinformation campaigns, noting that false narratives are actively being weaponised to manipulate public opinion, spark internal division, and destabilise the Sahel region.

Coordinated Strikes on Sensitive Sites

The attempted takeover unfolded rapidly overnight as mutineers launched simultaneous assaults on both Air Base 101 and the headquarters of the state broadcaster, Télé Sahel. Heavy gunfire and explosions rocked the capital, temporarily knocking the state media network offline.

However, elite forces loyal to Niger’s military leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, launched a fierce counter-offensive. Backed by Presidential Guard units, loyalist troops successfully recaptured the military infrastructure, neutralizing several mutineers and arresting dozens of others involved in the plot.

Nigerien defense authorities have since confirmed that the capital is fully secure and under the absolute control of the ruling junta.