Niger state television has broadcast images of Russian military instructors arriving in the country on a plane equipped with safety equipment. A member of the team told television on Thursday that his task was to assist in the training of Nigerien forces, who are fighting a growing insurgency led by jihadist-linked groups.
The United States has so far provided training to Nigerien forces and has considered the country a strong and stable ally in a region plagued by conflict and attempted coups in recent years. Earlier this year, Niger announced that it no longer recognized the American presence in the country, although it has not yet ordered the withdrawal of American troops, according to US officials.
The arrival of the Russian trainers came after a conversation between President Vladimir Putin and the country’s military leaders, who are seeking to diversify their partnerships and achieve greater sovereignty. Since July, when mutinous soldiers overthrew Niger’s democratically elected president, the junta has largely maintained control in the country. Months later, they requested the departure of French forces.
Niger managed to expel US troops with the help of Russia
As of December, the U.S. military still maintained about 650 troops in Niger, mostly at a base farther from Niamey, the capital. The Nigerien base is crucial to US counterterrorism operations in the Sahel and has been used for both manned and unmanned surveillance operations. However, drone flights are currently conducted only for force protection.
Russia has been active in parts of Africa through its private security company Wagner Group, from the Central African Republic to Mali, where they are collaborating with the army in the fight against armed rebels. The Wagner Group was one of the first sources of aid that Niger’s military leaders sought when faced with possible ECOWAS military intervention in an attempt to reverse the coup.
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