Russia Confirms Africa Corps Fought to Suppress Niger's Base 101 Mutiny, Providing Ground and Air Support

Russia's ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropaev, told Russian state news agency TASS that mutineers at Niamey's Base 101 were 'neutralized, particularly thanks to the intervention' of Russia's Africa Corps, confirming for the first time that the roughly 200-300 Africa Corps personnel stationed at the base provided direct ground and aerial support to forces loyal to Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani during the August 29-30 uprising — the first known instance of Russian personnel in Niger fighting to suppress an internal military challenge rather than conducting counterinsurgency operations. State media said security forces killed or arrested 'dozens' of soldiers, though Reuters and AP said they could not independently verify the toll. Algeria also sent fighter jets and transport aircraft in support of the junta. Niger's government has publicly framed the episode as a 'contained internal disciplinary incident,' while BBC and France 24 described it as an attempted coup — the most serious internal military challenge since the July 2023 takeover.