Niger's failed coup exposes cracks in the military — and Russia's influence

What does it mean to be a soldier in Niger today? It means fighting jihadi groups under difficult conditions and at considerable personal risk for little pay, said Sahel expert Abdoulaye Sounaye, a professor at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient research institution in Berlin.

In an exclusive interview with DW, he described the hard conditions facing Nigerien soldiers: "The vast majority earn less than €150 [about $170] a month, and many have to support six, seven or more family members on that monthly salary."

"This naturally contributes to discontent within Niger's armed forces," he added, hinting at some of the motivation behind the increasing levels of discontent among soldiers.

At the same time, military personnel are expected to follow a strict military leadership which only came to power through a coup.

At the top of this junta sits General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the commander of the presidential guard prior to the military takeover in 2023.

Tchiani ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. His junta largely justified its rule by invoking the ongoing fight against jihadi violence in the country, which it claims the Bazoum administration had failed to sufficiently address.

But the failed uprising in Niamey over the weekend puts that claim to the test amid growing frustration within the military over the unending battle against Islamist insurgencies.

On the weekend, parts of the army temporarily took control of Air Base 101 at Niamey's international airport, and attempted to advance toward the presidential palace and Niger's state broadcaster.