Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported across several parts of Niger’s capital, Niamey, early Saturday as mutinous soldiers launched an attack targeting the airport and areas near the presidency, according to four sources. The fighting continued for several hours, creating fresh uncertainty over the rule of military leader Abdourahamane Tiani, who took power in a 2023 coup.

State television and radio were off the air as of 8 a.m. local time, or 0800 GMT. The government called for calm and said security forces were being mobilised to deal with the situation. The attack is the latest challenge to Tiani’s leadership in the West African country, which has struggled to contain jihadist violence despite repeated promises by its military rulers to improve security.

A Niger security source said the attack involved soldiers from Ouallam, Tera and Dosso in the southwest of the country. Yvan Guichaoua, a senior researcher at the Bonn International Centre for Conflict Studies, also said soldiers from these areas were involved. Troops stationed in the region have suffered heavy losses in fighting against the regional Islamic State affiliate.

Earlier, another Niger security source told Reuters that "terrorists" had attacked the airport and tried to break through the security perimeter surrounding the presidency. A Reuters witness reported intense gunfire near the presidential complex.

Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a member of Niger's Bureau of the Consultative Council and a deputy in the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) Parliament, said on Facebook that the attackers had targeted the military airbase known as Base 101. He said security forces had taken back control of the facility.

"Another cowardly attack on Base 101 and once again our defence and security forces ensured ... Situation under control," Ibrahim wrote.

However, the situation remained unsettled after his statement. A Reuters witness reported more gunfire at the airport along with heavy explosions during the pre-dawn hours. The violence continued even after Ibrahim said Base 101 was under control.

By 0900 GMT, loyalist troops appeared to have secured the presidential palace, according to two security sources and a diplomat. At the same time, state television was reported to have fallen into the hands of the mutineers. The area around the airport was still being contested, the sources said. Reuters was unable to independently verify these accounts.

A spokesperson for the Niger government did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The lack of access to state media also added to the uncertainty surrounding the events in the capital.

The unrest comes at a difficult time for Niger, a mineral-rich country with major uranium, oil and gold resources. The country has been under military rule since July 2023, when President Mohamed Bazoum was removed from power in a coup led by Tiani.

Since then, Niger has faced continued attacks from Islamist militant groups linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State. The military government had promised to improve security, but the insurgency has continued. Burkina Faso and Mali, which are also ruled by military governments, have faced similar problems in their fight against Islamist groups.

The latest violence also highlights the security pressure faced by Niger’s forces. Earlier this year, affiliates of both al Qaeda and Islamic State carried out attacks on the civilian airport and the military airbase in Niamey. West Africa’s al Qaeda affiliate later claimed responsibility for an attack on the airport in June. The incident came five months after Islamic State Sahel Province targeted the same location.

Tiani’s government has also made major changes to Niger’s foreign policy since taking power. It has moved away from Western partners and strengthened ties with Russia. The government also ended its relationship with the regional Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS. Niger joined Mali and Burkina Faso in forming the Alliance of Sahel States, a new regional bloc that operates outside ECOWAS.

The latest unrest also comes as Niger increases state control over its uranium industry. Authorities have taken control of assets previously held by French nuclear company Orano. Niger was once an important supplier of uranium to Europe and provided around 15% of Orano’s uranium supply when the company was operating at full capacity.

Last week, the Niger government also reassigned uranium permits previously held by Orano and GoviEx to state-backed companies through a decree. The move further increased government control over the country’s strategic uranium resources.

The attack in Niamey now presents another major security challenge for Tiani’s government. While loyalist forces appeared to have regained control of the presidential palace and Base 101, reports of continued fighting around the airport and the takeover of state television by mutinous soldiers suggested that the situation remained fluid. The government had urged calm as security forces worked to restore control across the capital.