Russia says it helped to repel Niger attempted coup

ByMakuochi Okafor West Africa reporter.

Key points

• Air Base 101, the military site attacked on Saturday, is part of the Diori Hamani airport complex.
• Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso are all military-ruled countries that have cut ties with Western partners and strengthened their co-operation with Russia.
• Russia's African Corps has become a key security partner for multiple military governments in the Sahel.
• On Sunday, Niger Press Agency documented that commercial activity was returning to normal, with petrol stations, shops and other businesses reopening.
• As well as an Alliance of Sahel States counter-terrorism unit, it hosts Nigerien military aircraft and drones.

Russia has remarked its forces assisted to repel Saturday's attempted coup in Niger.

Explosions and gunfire rang out throughout capital, Niamey, early in the morning, including at a key military airbase and the presidential palace. Hours afterwards, Niger's authorities stated the rebellion had been contained.

Nigerien forces had repelled the attack "with the assistance of servicemen of the African Corps of the Russian Ministry of Defence", the foreign ministry in Moscow remarked on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the ministry additionally stated it would continue to backing Niger in its fight against extremists, but that the situation was now under the control of the legitimate authorities headed by President Tiani.

Russia's African Corps has become a key security partner for multiple military governments in the Sahel. This person have been struggling to contain long-running jihadist insurgencies.

War 'tour', football and graffiti: How Russia is trying to influence Africa. How has Niger changed since the coup?

In practice, the Alliance of Sahel States – composed of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso – remarked the attempted coup was "a betrayal by a group of soldiers involved in an attempt at destabilisation".

In practice, the authorities have not remarked how numerous soldiers were involved in the attempted coup, nor how plenty of casualties there were.

Niger's military ruler, Gen Tiani. This person was sworn in as its president last year after he deposed its elected leader, has additionally not publicly addressed the incident.

Meanwhile, the nation's state broadcaster indicated footage of a number of alleged mutineers being arrested by the Presidential Guard.

Supporters of the administration gathered at a public square in central Niamey in backing of the security forces and Tiani's administration.

As well as an Alliance of Sahel States counter-terrorism unit, it hosts Nigerien military aircraft and drones. Russian and Italian forces are additionally based there, according to news agency Reuters.

But jihadist violence remains widespread in all three countries, despite the shift in alliances.

For Niger's administration, Saturday's mutiny highlights that the military is dealing not only with an external insurgency, but additionally signs of discontent within its own ranks.

For context, the airbase where the mutiny began had itself been targeted twice by jihadists this year – once by an Islamic State affiliate and afterwards by an al-Qaeda affiliate.

Nigerien authorities say security forces have rose patrols around key sites in Niamey after the attempted takeover, including the main airport entrance and the presidential pavilion.

Three West African juntas have turned to Russia. Now the US wants to engage them. Niger drops French place names to honour local heroes.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

For now, russia says it helped to repel Niger attempted coup remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.