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Russian soldiers have been captured during an assault on a military base in Africa

Duration: 3:15 456 transcript words EN summary

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Recent reports indicate that Russian servicemen and Nigerian military personnel were held hostage for several hours during a mutiny at an airbase near Niamey, the capital of Niger. According to sources within Niger's security services and media outlets like Le Monde, approximately 200 troops from the Russian Africa Corps and around 300 Italian soldiers were stationed at the airport when the operation began around 1:00 a.m. on August 29th. During the initial stages of the conflict, these foreign forces attempted to remain neutral amidst clashes between government troops and rebels, but they eventually found themselves caught in the crossfire as the situation escalated into a full-scale coup attempt involving the seizure of the national broadcaster and an attack on the presidential palace before rebels barricaded themselves inside Base 101. The mutiny was led by soldiers who attempted to hold fellow service members against their will while opening fire on sensitive targets within the city. By Saturday evening, pro-government forces, supported significantly by the Russian Africa Corps, managed to recapture the base in Niamey, resulting in the deaths of several rebels. However, the fate of the hostages, including foreign nationals whose identities were not fully established by the end of the day, remained unknown at the time of publication. This event marked the third major shooting incident in Niger's capital this year, but it distinguished itself due to the more serious scale of the clashes and the involvement of international military personnel. This latest instability occurs against the backdrop of Niger being ruled by General Abdourahamane Tchiani's junta since 2023, a regime that severed military cooperation with France and pivoted toward Russia for support. Despite this strategic shift, Western analysts observe that the security situation in Sahel countries has not improved; instead, the level of violence and death tolls have increased since the coups. The attempted coup in Niamey highlights the ongoing fragility of the region, echoing similar threats faced by neighboring Mali where rebels recently launched a deadly ambush on a convoy carrying Malian soldiers and members of the Russian Africa Corps heading to Anefis in northern Mali. In that separate attack, led by Tuareg fighters from the Front for the Liberation of Azawad, approximately 300 people were caught in the trap, with 200 of them being members of the Africa Corps, further illustrating the persistent dangers facing Russian military operations across the region.

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The New York Times reports that the military who staged the mutiny in Niger may have held Russian servicemen hostage for several hours at an airbase near the airport in the capital, Niamey. A source in Niger's security services also confirmed the hostage-taking of Nigerian military personnel and foreigners to Jeune Afrique. Le Monde reports that approximately 200 Russian Africa Corps troops and approximately 300 Italian troops were based at Niamey airport. According to the publication, during the mutiny, they tried to stay out of the clashes between government forces and the rebels. According to the New York Times, the operation began around 1:00 a.m. and continued until the morning. Niger's Ministry of Defense stated that on August 29th, at approximately 12:20 a.m., a group of soldiers attempted to hold some of their fellow soldiers against their will in the barracks of Base 101 in Niamey and opened fire on sensitive targets in the city. The Financial Times, citing eyewitnesses and sources, reports that rebels attacked a major military base at Niamey airport, briefly seized the national broadcaster in an attempted coup, and attempted to attack the presidential palace. After being driven from the presidential palace, the rebels barricaded themselves in Base 101. According to Afrique Plus, citing a Jeune Afrique source, they held Nigerian soldiers and foreign nationals hostage whose identities had not been established by the end of the day. By Saturday evening, pro-government forces, supported by the Russian Africa Corps, had recaptured the base in Niamey, AFP reported, citing a diplomatic source and security officials. Several rebels were killed. The fate of the hostages was unknown at the time of publication. Niger has been ruled by General Abdourahamane Tchiani's junta since 2023. After coming to power, it severed military cooperation with France and turned to Russia. However, as Western analysts note, the Sahel countries turn toward Moscow has not improved security. The level of violence and [music] the death toll have only increased since the coups. The attempted coup in Niamey marked the third major shooting in Niger's capital this year, but this time the scale of the clashes was more serious. Recall in Mali, rebels launched a new attack on a convoy carrying Malian soldiers and members of the Russian Africa Corps, killing several of them. Reuters reported this, citing insider information and a statement from the Azawad Liberation Front. About 300 people were caught in the ambush, 200 of whom were members of the Africa Corps. A convoy of government troops and Russian soldiers was heading to the town of Anefis in northern Mali when they were attacked by rebels from several groups. Among them, Tuareg fighters from the Front for the Liberation of Azawad played a leading role. >> [music]