Niger rebels seek support from Wagner mercenaries as military ultimatum looms

Thousands of junta supporters took to the streets of Niamey, Nigeria's capital. Credit: Mahamadou Hamidou/Reuters

Nigerian coup leaders called on Russian Wagner mercenaries to help after neighboring countries threatened military intervention if the country's ousted president is not reinstated by Sunday.

General Salifu Modi, one of the Nigerian officers who led the coup made the request, The Associated Press reported, citing a Western military official and three Malian sources.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum to the rebels to return Mohamed Bazum to power or face military action.

“All the elements that will be included in any possible intervention have already been worked out,” said Abdel-Fatau Musah, the bloc's commissar.

«We want diplomacy to work, and we want the message to be clearly communicated to them that we are giving them every opportunity to reverse what they have done.»

p>Who are the leaders of Niger's military junta?

Up to 50,000 troops from countries including Nigeria, Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire could be deployed to restore civilian rule, a military source told French newspaper Le Monde.

Troll farms run by Wagner often tried to stir up anti-French sentiment in the region, with their armed mercenaries providing security and training for local military juntas. flags of their former colonial overlords, making it clear that Russia or China had no part in their oppression.

The coup to take control of Niger, a former French colony, played exactly the same mood.

Force was threatened after the Ecowas delegation left Niger last Thursday, unable to restore peace or meet with any coup leaders , nor with the deposed president.

General Abdurahaman Tiani, who declared himself the new leader of Niger after a military coup, said his junta would not back down.

And Mali and Burkina Faso, led by military juntas, warned that any regional intervention would be tantamount to «a declaration of war » against them.

The Alliance opposed the coup in Niger

Russia sought to capitalize on sentiment against France, a former colonial power in the region, to increase its influence there through Wagner. Despite heavy losses in Ukraine, Wagner is believed to have at least 1,500 hired guns deployed in Mali.

Thousands of Nigerians took to the streets Thursday to celebrate the coup on the country's independence anniversary. some wave Russian flags and chant anti-French slogans.

Coup d'état supporters, some of whom waved Russian flags, are out of line. Photo: Mahamadou Hamidou/Reuters

France is heavily dependent on Niger for uranium to fuel its nuclear power plants and has used it as a base of operations. against Islamic terrorism in the Sahel. After failed peace talks this week, the junta announced it was severing all military ties with Paris.

There was no indication that General Modi met with Wagner representatives during his visit to Mali. However, the meeting was attended by Colonel Sadio Camara, Mali's defense minister who was sanctioned by the US for assisting Wagner in his country.

General Modi was due to travel to Burkina Faso, where the leaders have forged closer ties in recent months with Russia.

The Sahel “may fall under the influence of Russia”

In his first public statement, Mohamed Bazum, who was detained by the junta in his official presidential residence, declared a successful putsch “would have devastating consequences for our country, our region and the whole world.

He wrote in The Washington Post: «The entire Sahel region could fall under Russian influence through the Wagner group, whose brutal terrorism is fully manifested in Ukraine.»

Moscow warns against any military intervention by 15 people . ECOWAS countries.

“It is unlikely that the intervention of any extra-regional power will be able to change the situation for the better,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this week.

France has pledged to support whatever outcome the bloc accepts after the deadline.

Paris said «the future of Niger and the stability of the entire region is at stake» as tensions escalate. over the future of one of the world's poorest countries.

«France strongly and strongly supports ECO's efforts to repel this coup attempt,» the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

>As As the Sunday deadline approached, an Ecowas delegation visited Algeria and Libya to enlist the support of their regional partners.