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Last Saturday, the military junta in Niger turned to Russia's Africa Corps for support after mutinous soldiers seized a strategic military base. Following intense fighting in Niamey, the Africa Corps helped Nigerien loyalist forces regain control of Air Base 101 at Diori Hamani International Airport. Unlike its predecessor, the Wagner Group, Africa Corps is directly controlled by the Russian Ministry of Defense and is believed to have around 200 to 300 personnel in Niger.
Russia's ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropaev, publicly acknowledged the intervention, stating that Russian forces had helped "repress a mutiny." Analysts suggest this intervention signifies a shift in Russia's role in the Sahel, showing that it can provide not only combat support but also protection for military governments in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
The attempted coup highlights the junta's increasing dependence on Moscow for security. The Nigerien military's justification for the July 2023 coup was the deteriorating security situation and the failure of the previous civilian government to address it. While Africa Corps has helped contain internal military grievances, it has yet to resolve the ongoing threat from jihadist groups, indicating that the junta's reliance on Russian support may continue to grow as they face challenges on multiple fronts.