Russia cements its role as Africa junta protector after helping quell Niger’s mutiny

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Niger’s junta survived its most severe internal threat since seizing power in a 2023 coup when renegade soldiers staged a mutiny over the weekend, triggering a 24-hour standoff that ended with Russian intervention. The mostly young soldiers took some of their colleagues hostage at a strategic military base in the capital, Niamey, and fired shots near the presidential palace 12 kilometers (7 miles) away before being subdued by presidential guard forces aided by Russia’s Africa Corps paramilitary group, according to several analysts and diplomats. Russia’s ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, told Russian media Niger had requested support from the Russian force and the mutineers were “neutralized, particularly thanks to the intervention” of Africa Corps.

Nigerien authorities are yet to comment on the event. Analysts say the clashes at the Base 101 at the Niamey international airport could have gone either way because of the mutineers’ determination and large numbers until the Russian troops stepped in. It’s the second time this year the Africa Corps has intervened to fend off an attack on power centers in Africa’s Sahel region.

In May, the Russian troops helped quell massive attacks by jihadis and rebels across junta-led Mali. In a region known to be the global epicenter of terrorism, “fighting jihadis comes as a second priority (for the Africa Corps), but the first priority is to sustain regimes and they are succeeding in this,” said Wassim Nasr, a senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, a New York-based think tank. Russia uses forces to influence power in Africa Across the Sahel region, a vast arid expanse south of the Sahara Desert, militaries that grabbed power citing security failures have severed ties with longtime Western security allies and turned to Russia.

They first welcomed the Moscow-backed Wagner private mercenary group before it was replaced by Africa Corps under the direct command of the Russian Defense Ministry. It is not known how many Russian mercenaries are in the Sahel’s three junta-led countries of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, but varying estimates put the number between 1,700 and 2000. Meanwhile, in the Central African Republic, Wagner is estimated to have around 1,000 forces As Russia competes with the United States, Europe and China for greater influence across Africa, the Russian forces have helped Mosco…

Nigerien authorities are yet to comment on the event.Analysts say the clashes at the Base 101 at the Niamey international airport could have gone either way because of the mutineers’ determination and large numbers until the Russian troops stepped in.It’s the second time this year the Africa Corps has intervened to fend off an attack on power centers in Africa’s Sahel region.