Nigeria urges peace in Niger after foiled coup, warns of regional spillover
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Sunday it is deeply concerned about the political and security situation in Niger after a mutiny in Niamey was thwarted. Premium Times reported heavy gunfights and explosions at Diori Hamani International Airport, Air Base 101 and other key points, with mutineers trying to storm the presidential palace where junta leader Abdourahmane Tchiani is guarded by elite forces. The mutiny was defeated after hours of fighting by Niger’s elite forces aided by the Russian‑backed African Corps.
The Nigerian government urged Niger’s authorities and people to pursue an inclusive and participatory return to stability and constitutional order through peaceful means, stressing that a secure Niger directly benefits Nigeria, the Sahel and wider region given shared security challenges and long‑standing ties. It warned that using force to settle political differences undermines lasting peace.
Niger was suspended from ECOWAS after the 2023 coup that brought Tchiani to power, later joining Mali and Burkina Faso in withdrawing from the bloc to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). Although sanctions and a border blockade imposed by Tinubu‑led ECOWAS have been lifted, diplomatic relations between the two neighbours remain strained.
What does this mean for Nigerians? Instability in Niger could increase cross‑border insecurity, affect trade routes and trigger refugee flows, so monitoring the situation and supporting diplomatic efforts are important for national safety.