Russia confirms helping to repel Niger airport attack

Russian soldiers helped to repel an attack on Niger’s main airport in the capital Niamey last week which was claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group, Moscow said on Monday.

Niger’s ruling junta earlier said “Russian partners” helped to fend off the rare assault on the capital, which saw 20 attackers killed and four army soldiers wounded.

“The attack was repelled through the joint efforts of the Russian Ministry of Defence’s African Corps and the Nigerien armed forces,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

“Moscow strongly condemns this latest extremist attack,” it added.

Niger’s junta accused Benin, France and Ivory Coast of sponsoring the attack on the airport, which also houses a military base.

Junta chief Abdourahamane Tiani later visited the Russian military base to express “personal gratitude for a high level of professionalism”, the ministry said.

Russia rarely comments on its military activity in the Sahel region, where Moscow has been increasing its influence after a slew of anti-Western coups.

Facing isolation in the West following the war in Ukraine, Moscow has tried to build new partnerships in Africa, where it has been growing its political, economic and military footprint in recent years.

Apart from Niger, Russian troops or military instructors have been reported to be deployed in Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic and Libya.

The African Corps unit of the Russian defence ministry has taken over from the Wagner paramilitary group across the continent.

According to Moscow, the corps contributes to “fighting terrorists” and “strengthening regional stability” in the Sahel.

Niger’s authorities have been fighting the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS) in the west and southeast of the country for a decade.