Russia Claims Aid Repelled Niger Coup Attempt
By Makuochi Okafor, West Africa reporter
Early on Saturday, explosions lit up Niamey’s streets, heard from the presidential palace to the key military Air Base 101. Russian statements say its African Corps served alongside Nigerien troops, staving off the mutiny before it could spread across the capital.
The Kremlin’s Ministry of Defence announced that the coup attempt, “with the assistance of servicemen of the African Corps,” had been contained, and that the situation was now back under the legitimate government of President Gen Abdou Rahmane Tiani.
The Alliance of Sahel States – comprising Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso – denounced the rebels as “a betrayal,” yet has not released casualty figures or details on the number of soldiers involved.
Video footage that aired on Niger’s state broadcaster showed mutineers being detained by the Presidential Guard, signalling a swift suppression of the plot. By Sunday, ordinary commerce resumed: petrol stations reopened, shops lit up, and a public square in Niamey hosted supporters rallying behind the security forces.
Air Base 101, part of the Diori Hamani airport complex, houses Nigerien aircraft, drones, a Sahel counter‑terrorism unit, and additional Russian and Italian forces, underscoring the entrenchment of Russian influence in the Sahel’s military landscape. Despite this, jihadist insurgencies remain widespread across Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso.
The incident reveals a dual threat: external jihadist attacks – the airbase has been hit twice by Islamic State and al‑Qaeda affiliates this year – and mounting domestic military unrest. Nigerien troops have since increased patrols around key sites, including the airport entrance and presidential pavilion.
@BBCAfrica – stay updated on community-driven reports of the region’s security developments.
