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Russian military instructors landed in Niger with an air defense system and other equipment as part of the West African country’s growing security ties with Moscow, state television reported late Thursday.
In January, Niger’s military government agreed to increase military collaboration with Russia after expelling French personnel who were assisting in the fight against jihadist rebellions in multiple Sahel countries.
On Wednesday night, Tele Sahel published footage of a Russian freight jet arriving at Niamey airport. In it, it stated that “the latest military equipment and military instructors from the Russian defence ministry” were on the way.
According to the claim, Russia will assist with the installation of an air defense system to establish complete control over our airspace.
One instructor was cited as saying, “We are here to train the Niger army and help it use the newly delivered equipment. “The equipment is for various military specialties.”
General Abdourahamane Tiani, the head of Niger’s military administration, spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 26.
Authorities noted at the time that the two leaders addressed security cooperation as well as “global strategic cooperation” against “current threats” without going into detail.
Niger, one of the world’s poorest countries, had previously been a frontline partner of the West in combating Islamists in the Sahel, but has turned to Russia since the elected president was deposed last year.
Niger has recently joined neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso, also headed by military presidents following coups, to form a joint force to combat long-running jihadist insurgencies.
The United States has approximately 1,000 troops in Niger, but their movements have been restricted since the coup, and Washington has reduced assistance to the administration.
