Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby has issued a denial of allegations linking his country to last week's failed mutiny in Niger.
The allegations emerged from Capt. Roger Gabriel, who appeared on Niger's state television Tele Sahel on 1 September claiming he received calls from Chadian officers offering military support for the uprising. Gabriel alleged that Chadian and French special forces were preparing to assist mutineers who seized Base 101 at Niamey's international airport on August 28-29.
Gabriel further claimed that relatives of detained former Niger President Mohamed Bazoum contacted him, saying "international partners" stood ready to intervene. He identified alleged ringleaders and said the plot enjoyed support from Benin and Côte d'Ivoire, though these claims remain unverified.
While Chad denies involvement, Algeria has provided military support to Niger's junta. On August 30, Algiers deployed four Sukhoi Su-30 fighter jets and an Ilyushin Il-78 aerial refueling tanker to Niamey at the request of Nigerien authorities. The Algerian Defense Ministry described the deployment as support "in countering the attempt to destabilize the brotherly nation".
Niger's junta leader, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, thanked Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune during an August 31 phone call for his "firm support and active solidarity" during the crisis.
Meanwhile, Russian Ambassador to Niger Viktor Voropayev reportedly announced that Niger's government formally requested their assistance to "suppress a mutiny".
Loyalist forces, including the presidential guard and Russian paramilitary troops, recaptured Base 101 after several hours of fighting. The mutineers had attempted to storm the presidential palace and state TV headquarters but failed to persuade other units to join their bid to oust Tchiani.
Three presidential guards were killed during the uprising and posthumously promoted to higher ranks. While activities have returned to normal in Niamey and the airport reopened, security analysts warn the mutiny exposes deep fractures within Niger's military.
The Alliance of Sahel States (AES), comprising Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, described the mutiny as "an act of treason" by military personnel.
