About 200 Russian Soldiers May Have Been Taken Prisoner In Niger
- 30.08.2026, 17:43
The Russian African Corps found itself at the center of a military mutiny.
The New York Times reports that the soldiers who staged a mutiny in Niger may have held Russian military personnel hostage for several hours at an airbase near the airport in the capital, Niamey. A source in Niger’s security services also confirmed to Jeune Afrique that hostages—including Nigerien military personnel and foreigners—had been taken.
Le Monde reports that approximately 200 soldiers from the Russian African Corps and about 300 Italian soldiers were stationed at Niamey Airport. During the mutiny, according to the publication, they tried to stay out of the clashes between government forces and the mutineers.
According to the NYT, the operation began around 1:00 a.m. and continued until morning. Niger’s Ministry of Defense stated that on August 29 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 also opened fire on “sensitive sites” in the city.
The Financial Times, citing eyewitnesses and sources, reports that the mutineers attacked a major military base at the Niamey airport, briefly seized the national television and radio broadcaster in an attempted coup, and tried to attack the presidential palace.
After being driven back from the presidential palace, the mutineers barricaded themselves inside Base 101. According to Afriques Plus, citing a source from Jeune Afrique, they were holding Nigerien soldiers and foreign nationals hostage, whose identities had not been established by the end of the day.
By Saturday evening, forces loyal to the government, supported by the Russian African Corps, had recaptured the base in Niamey, AFP reported, citing a diplomatic source and security sources. Several mutineers were killed. At the time of publication, there was no information on the hostages’ fate.
Niger has been ruled by General Abdurrahman Tchiani’s junta since 2023. After coming to power, the junta severed military cooperation with France and turned to Russia. However, as Western analysts note, the Sahel countries’ shift toward Moscow has not improved security: the level of violence and the number of casualties have only increased since the coups.
The attempted coup in Niamey was already the third major shooting incident in Niger’s capital this year, but this time the scale of the clashes was more serious.