Clashes in Niger after troops try to storm palace

Clashes erupted in Niger's capital, Niamey, on Saturday between the presidential guard and elements of the armed forces, following a night of heavy gunfire that also took the national TV station off air.

The attempted storming of the presidential palace marks a dramatic escalation in the country's ongoing political instability.

Witnesses reported sustained gunfire and explosions across the city, with the situation remaining tense as of late morning.

The international community is closely monitoring the events, which could signal a significant shift in Niger's fragile power dynamics.