Russian paramilitary forces help Niger's junta regain control after mutiny

Niger's capital, Niamey, experienced a day of unrest after a mutiny by young soldiers on Saturday. The mutineers, who stormed the presidential palace and camped at a military base in Niamey's main airport, were met with resistance from loyalist forces aided by Russian troops, specifically the Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force.

The clashes, which took place overnight from Friday till late Saturday, resulted in the arrest or killing of dozens of soldiers, according to the Associated Press. The mutineers were paraded in front of cameras live on state television, but their fate and any potential charges against them are unclear.

Normalcy appeared to have been restored by Sunday, with military trucks and checkpoints visible across the city, particularly along major roads between the airport and the presidential district. Junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani had yet to make a public comment or appearance. The mutiny was seen as a major threat to the junta in power since a 2023 coup, and highlighted tensions within Niger's armed forces, which have struggled to contain a jihadist insurgency.

Brief written by urgent.news from France 24, Associated Press, Winnipeg Free Press, SABC News, Premium Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.