The Russian military helped the Nigerien junta quell an attempted coup
Russia’s “African Corps” helped the forces of Niger’s military junta suppress an attempted military coup and regain control of the key Air Base No. 101 in the country’s capital, Niamey.
On the night of August 29, gunfire and explosions were heard in the area of the Ammani Diori International Airport. About a hundred insurgents took military personnel at the airbase hostage and opened fire on strategic targets in the capital. State television and radio stations were also taken offline for several hours.
Security forces loyal to military junta leader Abdurrahman Tiani managed to hold the presidential palace. According to three Reuters sources, the Russian Ministry of Defense’s “African Corps” played a key role in regaining control of the airbase.
One of the agency’s sources stated that Russian military forces deployed attack drones, resulting in the deaths of several insurgents. Another source reported that the drone strikes forced some of the rebels to surrender.
Bana Wagana Ibrahim, a representative of Niger’s Consultative Council, stated that the situation in the country is under the control of the defense and security forces.
This was reported by Reuters.
Nigeria has called on the African Union to step up the fight against xenophobia in South Africa.
Vice President Shettima returned to Nigeria after the African Union summit.
