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Niger mutiny puts Russia’s expanding role in the Sahel to the test
Confirmed
Russia’s ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropaev, said Nigerien authorities requested the force’s assistance to neutralise the mutineers. 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.
“The security arrangements that are currently in place, whether it’s counterinsurgency support, military equipment, and other economic deals along the side, are heavily dependent on the leadership of these three countries,” said Beverly Ochieng, a security analyst specializing in the Sahel for Control Risks consultancy.
Although the juntas have pushed for more sovereignty and launched campaigns presenting themselves as more independent, the events in Niger "highlight the vulnerabilities of a regime whose stability increasingly relies on a Russian partnership,” writes the Senegal-based Timbuktu Institute for Peace Studies.
Although Russia has limited resources to deploy in these countries, “they really know how to balance the diplomacy, counterinsurgency, and the sort of geopolitics to demonstrate that they’re an all-weather friend,” said Ochieng.
The success of Russia in keeping juntas in power could also bolster Moscow’s appeal for a number of African governments, said Nathaniel Powell, West Africa analyst at Oxford Analytica. Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said recently the country is ready to offer its support to African countries in their fight against terrorism.
The arrangement with Wagner and later Africa Corps has proven to be “good business for Russia (at) a low cost,” said Nasr from the Soufan Center. Africa Corps personnel are stationed at Base 101, according to AP, which reported that the force has between 200 and 300 personnel in Niger.
Niger’s army said it regained control of the base after hours of fighting. Nigerien state media said hundreds of soldiers were involved, but Reuters said it could not independently verify that figure.
Reuters reported that an attack by an ISIL affiliate earlier this month killed 18 Nigerien soldiers.
What's confirmed
- Russia’s ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropaev, said Nigerien authorities requested the force’s assistance to neutralise the mutineers.
- “The security arrangements that are currently in place, whether it’s counterinsurgency support, military equipment, and other economic deals along the side, are heavily dependent on the leadership of these three countrie
- Although the juntas have pushed for more sovereignty and launched campaigns presenting themselves as more independent, the events in Niger "highlight the vulnerabilities of a regime whose stability increasingly relies on
- Although Russia has limited resources to deploy in these countries, “they really know how to balance the diplomacy, counterinsurgency, and the sort of geopolitics to demonstrate that they’re an all-weather friend,” said
- The success of Russia in keeping juntas in power could also bolster Moscow’s appeal for a number of African governments, said Nathaniel Powell, West Africa analyst at Oxford Analytica.
- The arrangement with Wagner and later Africa Corps has proven to be “good business for Russia (at) a low cost,” said Nasr from the Soufan Center.
What's still developing
- Niger’s army said it regained control of the base after hours of fighting.
- Russia’s ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropaev, said Nigerien authorities requested the force’s assistance to neutralise the mutineers.
- Nigerien state media said hundreds of soldiers were involved, but Reuters said it could not independently verify that figure.
- Reuters reported that an attack by an ISIL affiliate earlier this month killed 18 Nigerien soldiers.
- Africa Corps personnel are stationed at Base 101, according to AP, which reported that the force has between 200 and 300 personnel in Niger.
- 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…
- “The security arrangements that are currently in place, whether it’s counterinsurgency support, military equipment, and other economic deals along the side, are heavily dependent on the leadership of these three…
- Although Russia has limited resources to deploy in these countries, “they really know how to balance the diplomacy, counterinsurgency, and the sort of geopolitics to demonstrate that they’re an all-weather friend,”…