The attack revealed the tension within the Nigerien armed forces. The military has repeatedly suffered losses fighting against Al Qaeda and Islamic State factions operating in West Africa.
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The leader of the military junta, Abdourahamane Tiani, who came to power through the 2023 coup, ended cooperation with Western partners, including the United States and France. For his protection and combat operations, he enlisted Russian forces.
According to three sources, the Kremlin-controlled paramilitary formation “African Corps” played a significant role in helping government forces retake the airbase. One source working in security structures indicated that the Russians directly participated in the fighting in the capital Niamey.
An expert maintaining relations with the Sahel countries involved in the conflict said that Russian forces used kamikaze drones during the operation, including in the battles for the base. Some rebels were killed by their strikes. According to another source, at least one drone strike helped force the insurgents to surrender.
The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Nigerien military, assisted by the “African Corps,” repelled the attack on the capital. Moscow promised to continue supporting Niger in the fight against extremists.
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The junta was also supported by Algeria, which sent four fighter jets and other equipment. The Nigerien presidential guard also stood to defend the A. Tiani regime.
The Sahel states alliance’s counter-terrorism forces from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger are deployed at the Niamey airbase. These countries are led by leaders who seized power through military coups. The base is also used by Russian and Italian personnel.
This year, the base had already become a target for groups linked to Islamic State and Al Qaeda. According to analysts and security sources, dissatisfaction is growing within the frontline Nigerien military forces due to repeated defeats by insurgents, which poses an additional threat to the A. Tiani regime.
Unrest arose when the junta tried to strengthen state control over the country’s mining sector, including by seizing assets of the French nuclear fuel company Orano.
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