Niamey (Niger), 30 August (LaPresse/AP) – Dozens of soldiers have been killed or arrested after attempting a mutiny in Niger’s capital, Niamey. The state broadcaster RTN showed footage of dozens of soldiers, mostly young men, being paraded in public after prolonged gunfire and explosions were heard during the night between Friday and Saturday at a strategic military base located within Niamey’s main airport and close to the presidential palace. “The fighting lasted several hours in various locations, enabling the security forces to gradually regain control of the situation, arrest and neutralise these rebellious soldiers,” reported state television. According to analysts and diplomats, the Russian African Corps provided air and ground support to local forces to counter the rebellion. Senior officers from the Nigerien army visited the African Corps’ base at the airport “and expressed their gratitude to its personnel for the assistance provided in quelling the rebellion”. This was stated by Moscow’s ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev.
Niger: dozens of soldiers killed or arrested following an attempted mutiny
Niamey (Niger), 30 August (LaPresse/AP) – Dozens of soldiers have been killed or arrested after attempting a mutiny in Niger’s capital, Niamey. The state broadcaster RTN showed footage of dozens of soldiers, mostly young men, being paraded in public after prolonged gunfire and explosions were heard during the night between Friday and Saturday at a strategic military base located within Niamey’s main airport and close to the presidential palace. “The fighting lasted several hours in various locations, enabling the security forces to gradually regain control of the situation, arrest and neutralise these rebellious soldiers,” reported state television. According to analysts and diplomats, the Russian African Corps provided air and ground support to local forces to counter the rebellion. Senior officers from the Nigerien army visited the African Corps’ base at the airport “and expressed their gratitude to its personnel for the assistance provided in quelling the rebellion”. This was stated by Moscow’s ambassador to Niger, Viktor Voropayev.