Niger: evaluation of intervention by the Russian group Wagner

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The new military government of Niger has requested the assistance of the Russian mercenary group, known as Wagner, to counter any attacks by outside organizations and nations, especially the intervention ofECOWAS. It is a private military company and paramilitary group of the Russian Federation, owned by Evgenij Prigožin, a businessman with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Although it is officially an independent group of private mercenaries, according to various sources it would be a unit directed by the Russian Defense Ministry, used in conflicts in which the possibility of declaring oneself not involved is required.

The Wagner Group has participated in several international conflicts, including the civil wars in Libya and Syria, the second civil war in the Central African Republic, the war in Mali and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, there are UN reports accusing the group of committing war crimes in the areas where it has operated. In November 2022, the European Parliament requested that the group be placed on the European Union's terrorist list.

General Salifou Mody, coup leader of Niger, visited neighboring Mali, where there are commanders of the Wagner, to request their assistance. Currently, the private company is evaluating the request.

Recently, the coup plotters government reinstated democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum , prompting calls for a discussion table by ECOWAS officials to mediate the situation. However, the leader of the military government of General Abdourahmane Tchiani did not authorize the entry of the ECOWAS delegation into the country.

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