Soldiers in Niger Attack Presidential Palace and Airport, Shaking Junta

Renegade Nigerien soldiers attacked sites around the capital, the defense ministry said, including a key air base that hosts Russian mercenaries. Explosions at the capital’s airport, gunfire near the presidential palace and other clashes threw the West African country of Niger into confusion on Saturday, as renegade soldiers assaulted key sites and the authorities fought to keep control. Niger’s defense ministry said it was not immediately clear who led the attacks or what their aims were. The government, in a brief statement, did not identify them or mention a death toll. But the attacks on power centers left Niger’s ruling junta deeply shaken.

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