NIAMEY, September 8 — Thousands of demonstrators poured into Place de la Concertation in Niger’s capital on Wednesday to rally behind General Abdourahamane Tiani, the army chief who has led the military government since seizing power in a 2023 coup. The show of force came after a mutiny attempt over the weekend was put down by loyal supporters of the military government with the help of Russian partners. The gathering marked Tiani’s first major public test of support since he went silent following the uprising.
He had not appeared in public or issued any statement as of Wednesday.
Weekend clashes at sensitive sites
The attempted mutiny erupted with intense fighting across several highly sensitive locations in Niamey. Loyal supporters of the military government, working alongside Russian partners, ultimately put down the rebellion. Hundreds had already assembled at the same square on Saturday as the clashes broke out.
Business Minister Abdoulaye Seydou addressed the crowd with defiance. “We will show the whole world that the Nigerien people stand united,” he declared.
“Treason will not break our determination.” General Amadou Ibro, Tiani’s personal chief of staff, pointed fingers beyond Niger’s borders. He claimed the mutiny’s “sponsors are based abroad” — a refrain the junta has used repeatedly to justify its 2023 takeover, insisting it acted to restore Niger’s sovereignty.
Accusations against France, Russian flags in the crowd
State television had previously broadcast accusations implicating France, Niger’s former colonial power, in orchestrating the uprising. Among the demonstrators on Wednesday, Russian flags were visible alongside cries of “down with the imperialists.” The scene reflects a dramatic geopolitical realignment. Since Tiani’s coup, Niger has joined fellow junta-run Sahel neighbors Burkina Faso and Mali in turning away from Paris and cultivating closer security partnerships with Moscow.
Moscow’s paramilitaries from the Africa Corps have become Niger’s principal partners in combating the jihadist threat that continues to ravage the Sahel region. That deadly Islamist conflict has raged on unabated despite the junta’s promises and its diplomatic pivot.
What follows
Official media reported that additional rallies were planned across several of Niger’s major cities, suggesting the military government intends to sustain public mobilization in Tiani’s defense. The silence of the general himself, however, leaves questions about his grip and his condition.
