Claim
A video purportedly showing a Russian military plane landing in Niamey, the capital of Niger, has been circulating. Speculation has also arisen suggesting that “Wagner forces have already started entering the city”.
Fact
The aircraft shown in the video is indeed a Russian military IL-76 plane, but the footage is outdated.
Here are some of the widely shared claims we’ve investigated:
1.There are old and manipulated images circulating purportedly showing ‘Wagner troops’ arriving.
2.The US has suggested that Russia’s Wagner mercenary group is exploiting the instability in Niger, but there is currently no evidence of their fighters being deployed there.
3.Wagner forces have been active in other African countries like neighboring Mali and the Central African Republic.
The buildings visible in the video correspond to those surrounding Khartoum International Airport.
The TikTok video appears to have been edited to remove on-screen captions mentioning Mali and any references to the country in the report itself. Additionally, an old photograph of Wagner fighters in Ukraine has been circulating with claims suggesting the group planned to deploy fighters to Niger. However, as of now, no such announcement has been made in Wagner-affiliated groups on Telegram.
Conclusion
Fake-News-Busters determined that the video was uploaded on YouTube in 2006 and actually depicts the plane landing in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.
