According to a recent allegation, the Nigerien government has contracted Wagner mercenaries from Russia to provide military services.
According to French news outlet France 24, American journalist Jackson Hinkle reports that Wagner, a well-known mercenary outfit known for its fighting in Africa, Syria, Ukraine, and most recently the bungled Russian coup, has sought out to Niger, which deposed the elected president Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
He tweeted on Friday afternoon, August 4; “The new government of Niger has reportedly signed a contract with the Wagner Group – France 24.”
The claim follows news that President Tinubu had authorised the Nigerian military to lead ECOWAS on an invasion of Niger, according to reports that surfaced on Friday.
After Bazoum’s own guard members overthrew him and took him hostage. Two days later, the former guard commander for Bazoum, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, declared himself in charge on state television.
Thousands of pro-coup protestors reportedly flocked to the streets of Niamey, the nation of Niger, over the weekend, according to media reports. Many people cheered for Russian President Vladimir Putin while waving Russian flags and chanting supportive phrases.
Read also: Wagner Mercenary Boss Prigozhin Applauds Niger Coup Extends Offer to ‘Maintain Order’.
Moscow, though, is no longer associated with the coup. Last week, Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, stated that the Kremlin hoped for the “rapid release” of Bazoum. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin’s spokesman, echoed that attitude on Monday by urging “restraint on all sides.”
The Wagner Group, which has agreements with nations including the Central African Republic and Mali, might try to take advantage of the unrest in Niger and expand their footprint in Africa.
According to Reuters, a Telegram message purportedly from Wagner CEO Yevgeny Prigozhin last Saturday hailed the takeover. Although Reuters was unable to verify that it was Prigozhin, they did note that the speaker “had the same distinctive intonation and turn of phrase in Russian” as the head of the mercenary outfit.
The speaker offered to send Wagner warriors to help restore peace and praised the Nigerien military for driving out “the colonizers.”
