Niger army, aided by Russian forces, repels soldier mutiny at key airbase

Niger's army, with assistance from Russian paramilitary forces, regained control of a key military airbase after mutinous soldiers launched an attack. The incident, which occurred at Air Base 101 within the Diori Hamani airport complex, highlights internal tensions within Niger's armed forces amid ongoing jihadist insurgencies and the country's shift towards closer security cooperation with Russia.

Clashes between the mutineers and loyalist forces, including the Presidential Guard, took place overnight from Friday into Saturday, with gunfire also heard near the presidential palace. The unrest threatened the ruling military junta, which came to power in a 2023 coup. Authorities reported that dozens of soldiers involved in the mutiny were arrested or killed, and their fate was not immediately clear.

Normalcy began to return to Niamey on Sunday, with commercial activities resuming. The Alliance of Sahel States, comprising Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso, condemned the attempted coup as an act of destabilization. These three nations, all under military rule, have severed ties with Western partners and strengthened their cooperation with Russia, though jihadist violence remains widespread in the region.

Air Base 101, a strategic hub hosting Nigerien military aircraft and drones, also houses a counter-terrorism unit and bases for Russian and Italian forces. This was not the first time the airport has experienced unrest this year, having been targeted by jihadist groups previously.