Algeria Sends Fighter Jets to Niger After a Failed Military Coup

**Algeria Deploys Fighter Jets to Niger Following Failed Coup Attempt**

*Niamey, Niger – August 30, 2026* – Four Sukhoi Su‑30 fighter jets, an Ilyushin Il‑76 transport aircraft and an Ilyushin Il‑78 aerial tanker from the Algerian Air Force arrived at Air Base 101, adjacent to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, on Sunday. The deployment follows a military uprising that erupted in the Nigerien capital on the night of August 28‑29.

According to a statement from Algeria’s Ministry of National Defence, the aircraft were sent at the request of Nigerien authorities to support the Nigerien armed forces against what the government described as an “attempt to destabilize the State.” The arrival was marked by a ceremony at Air Base 101 on August 30.

The uprising involved several special‑forces units that had been operating against jihadist groups in the Tillabéri and Dosso regions. Residents reported gunfire and explosions near the presidential palace, the headquarters of Niger’s Radio and Television network, and Air Base 101. Nigerien officials announced on August 29 that they had restored order in the capital.

This is the first overseas deployment of Algerian military forces. Earlier in August, Algeria had supplied the Nigerien armed forces with four helicopters, ammunition, spare parts, maintenance equipment and logistical support.

Air Base 101 currently hosts the Italian military mission, the last remaining Western contingent in Niger after the withdrawal of French, U.S. and German forces. The base also accommodates the Africa Corps—a Russian‑run force that succeeded the Wagner mercenary group—and the joint headquarters of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a security cooperation framework involving Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali.

The airport and Air Base 101 have been targeted three times this year: an attack claimed by the Islamic State in the Sahel on January 29, an attack attributed to Jama’at Nasr al‑Sharia (JNIM) on June 18, and the recent rebel‑soldier uprising on August 29.

Algeria’s renewed military presence in Niger coincides with a broader shift in its regional relations. After a period of tension with Mali—exacerbated by Mali’s withdrawal from the 2015 Algiers Agreement and accusations that Algeria had provided refuge to armed groups—Algeria has recently resumed diplomatic ties with Bamako.

No reports indicate that Algerian forces have engaged in combat operations to suppress the coup attempt. The deployment appears aimed at bolstering Niger’s security posture amid ongoing instability in the Sahel region.

Article and image source: allafrica.com