NoClassDefFoundError: com.facebook.react.soloader.OpenSourceMergedSoMapping in Brownfield Integration

[saadlatif75]

Describe the bug:
When integrating my React Native 0.83.0 app as a library (.aar) into a native Android project (brownfield approach), the app crashes immediately on launch with:

java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Failed resolution of: Lcom/facebook/react/soloader/OpenSourceMergedSoMapping;

Steps to reproduce:

Build a .aar from a React Native 0.83.0 app.

Add the .aar as a dependency in a native Android project.

Initialize ReactNativeHost in MainActivity.

Run the app → crashes immediately.

Expected behavior:
The app should launch and load the React Native view successfully.
Stack trace:

FATAL EXCEPTION: main
Process: com.example.nedemofitsdk, PID: 8069
java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Failed resolution of: Lcom/facebook/react/soloader/OpenSourceMergedSoMapping;
at com.facebook.react.ReactNativeApplicationEntryPoint.loadReactNative(ReactNativeApplicationEntryPoint.java:25)
at com.yourapp.reactnativeapp.ReactNativeHostManager.initialize(ReactNativeHostManager.kt:11)
at com.example.nedemofitsdk.MainActivity.onCreate(MainActivity.kt:21)
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: Didn't find class "com.facebook.react.soloader.OpenSourceMergedSoMapping"...

Environment:

React Native version: 0.83.0

Gradle: Latest compatible with RN 0.83.0

Android SDK: API 36

Additional context / Notes:

Likely caused by missing SoLoader dependency in the host native project.

Adding implementation 'com.facebook.soloader:soloader:0.10.1' or equivalent in the host project might fix it.