Niger's Junta Regains Control Following Mutiny with Assistance from Russia's Africa Corps

In a dramatic turn of events, the ruling junta in Niger has successfully quelled a mutiny that threatened its hold on power, with the intervention of Russia's Africa Corps playing a crucial role. The unrest, which erupted at the Diori Hamani International Airport and near the presidential palace in Niamey, resulted in the deaths and arrests of dozens of soldiers, as reported by state television.

The mutiny, which began on Friday night and continued into Saturday, was met with fierce resistance from forces loyal to the junta. Witnesses and analysts suggest that the mutineers, numbering more than the elite presidential guard, were driven by grievances over the rising insecurity in the country, including a surge in jihadist attacks that have led to the mass killing of soldiers over the past year.

The chaos reached its peak as the mutineers, who were said to be predominantly from areas in the south and west of Niger that have been severely affected by jihadist violence, attempted to take control of the airport and the presidency. However, the situation was brought under control after the intervention of Russia's Africa Corps, which provided both ground and aerial support.

The Africa Corps, believed to have between 200 to 300 personnel in Niger, has been primarily tasked with protecting the junta and its interests, as well as supporting the fight against jihadis. Moscow's ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev, confirmed that Niger had requested support from the Russian force, and attributed the successful neutralization of the mutineers to the intervention of the Africa Corps.

The junta's leader, Abdourahamane Tchiani, has yet to make any public comments or appear in public since the unrest began. However, military trucks and checkpoints have been deployed across the city, particularly along major roads between the airport and the presidential district, signaling a return to normalcy.

The mutiny is seen as a significant threat to the junta, which came to power following a coup in 2023. FRANCE 24's terrorism expert, Wassim Nasr, suggested that the junta's handling of the deteriorating security situation had fueled discontent among soldiers, many of whom were deployed on the ground against jihadis.

The regional Alliance of Sahel States (AES), which includes Burkina Faso and Mali, expressed its full support for Niger and condemned the "betrayal" from the soldiers. Algeria, the first country to express support for Niger, assured its southeastern neighbor of its "full solidarity and firm support."

Turkey, another key ally of Niger, also expressed solidarity with the country and its people, calling for "restraint" to preserve the country's security and stability. The situation in Niger remains tense as the junta seeks to consolidate its control and address the underlying grievances that led to the mutiny.