Is Russia proving better at protecting friends than fighting enemies in West Africa?
Some, inflicting heavy casualties on security forces.Ochieng described this latest mutiny as evidence of longstanding grievances within Niger's own military, compounded by the pressure the soldiers have been facing."Counter-insurgency forces do not feel adequately supported by the military government," she said. Keeping those governments in power protects Russia's investment."Wagner - and now Africa Corps - have always had a very transactional interest in Africa," Boswall said."If they can get mineral resources in exchange for providing protection and defence, then they will. They'll continue to deploy just enough weapons and supplies and logistics… to continue supporting Africa Corps."But there are limits to what that support can achieve.
- ▪Some, inflicting heavy casualties on security forces.Ochieng described this latest mutiny as evidence of longstanding grievances within Niger's own military, compounded by the pressure the soldiers have been facing."Counter-insurgency force
- ▪Keeping those governments in power protects Russia's investment."Wagner - and now Africa Corps - have always had a very transactional interest in Africa," Boswall said."If they can get mineral resources in exchange for providing protection
- ▪They'll continue to deploy just enough weapons and supplies and logistics… to continue supporting Africa Corps."But there are limits to what that support can achieve.
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| Original publisher | BBC News |
| Canonical URL | https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2z75keq58o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss |
| Publication time | Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:03:51 GMT |
| Retrieval time | 2026-09-05T07:00:22.183Z |
| Last seen | 2026-09-05T07:00:22.183Z |
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| Summary source text | contentText |
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Is Russia proving better at protecting friends than fighting enemies in West Africa?Image source, AFP via Getty ImagesImage caption, The embrace of Russia by Niger, and other Sahel states, has been seen as a rejection of the post-colonial Western powersBySimi JolaosoAfrica correspondentPublished2 hours agoWhen mutinous soldiers seized a strategic military base in Niger's capital last Saturday, the country's ruling junta turned to a foreign partner it has increasingly relied on since coming to power: Russia.Following a night of intense fighting in Niamey, Russia's Africa Corps helped Nigerien loyalist forces to regain control of Air Base 101 at Diori Hamani International Airport.Africa Corps, unlike its predecessor the Wagner Group, is directly under the control of the defence ministry in…
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