RUSSIA SENDS MILITARY TRAINERS, AIR DEFENCE SYSTEM TO NIGER AGAINST “CURRENT THREATS”

Fri 12 April 2024:

As part of Niger’s strengthening security relations with Moscow, Russian military instructors have traveled to the West African country armed with an air defense system and other gear, according to official media.

In January, the military administration of Niger decided to increase military collaboration with Russia following the expulsion of French forces that were assisting in quelling violent uprisings in other Sahelian countries.

As it reported late on Thursday that “the latest military equipment and military instructors” from Russia’s Ministry of Defence had landed in the city, broadcaster Tele Sahel displayed footage of a Russian transport plane arriving at Niamey airport.

Russia will help “install an air defence system … to ensure complete control of our airspace”, the report said.

State-run Radio Television du Niger said on its Facebook page that 100 Russian military instructors had arrived in Niamey.

Russian military instructors arrived in Niger this week state TV said citing a deal between the junta and Moscow to boost security cooperation

Russia has agreed to set up an air defense system and train Nigerien troops as the future for US forces in the country remain uncertain pic.twitter.com/PXGLhnb1ZA

— Katarina Höije (@katarinah) April 11, 2024

There was no immediate comment from Russia, which has been seeking to boost its influence in Africa, promoting itself as a friendly country without a colonial background on the continent.

Niger has joined neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso – also ruled by military leaders after coups – to create a joint force to battle long-running armed rebellions.

Niger has turned to Russia since a coup last July overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

Violence in the region has worsened since the coups, the instability exacerbating a humanitarian crisis in the region bordering the Sahara desert. As of March, more than three million people were displaced there, the International Organization of Migration said this week.

In March, Niger decided to revoke its military accord with the United States that had allowed Pentagon personnel to operate on its soil from two bases, including a drone base it built at a cost of more than $100m.

The US still maintains about 1,000 soldiers in Niger, but their movements have been limited since the coup.

The head of the military government, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, spoke by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in March to discuss “global strategic cooperation” against “current threats”, authorities said at the time, without elaborating.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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