The Russian Foreign Ministry said that on August 29, personnel from the Africa Corps supported Niger’s government forces in repelling rebel attacks on state facilities in Niamey.

According to the ministry, Nigerien troops pushed back the attacks with assistance from servicemen of the Russian Defense Ministry’s Africa Corps. Moscow also said it would continue supporting Niger in its fight against extremists.

Gunfire and explosions were heard in Niamey during the night and morning of August 29. State broadcaster RTN temporarily suspended live transmissions before returning to the air several hours later. Nigerien authorities subsequently announced that the military uprising had been suppressed.

Associated Press reported that fighting continued for several hours across different parts of the capital. Security forces gradually regained control of the situation, detaining and neutralizing participants in the mutiny. Niger’s military leadership later thanked the Russian Africa Corps for its assistance in suppressing the unrest.

Russian Ambassador to Niger Viktor Voropayev also suggested that the attempted military mutiny may have been coordinated by outside forces. He said young officers who had arrived from the Tillaberi and Dosso regions were among those involved in the uprising.