Russia has dispatched an air defense system and a group of 100 military trainers to Niger Republic in West Africa, as reported by the Nigerien state broadcaster RTN.
The Russian Ministry of Defence will oversee the installation of the system and provide training to Niger’s soldiers on its operation.
This development follows a phone conversation between the head of the military junta, Abdourahamane Tchiani, and Russian President Vladimir Putin in late March. Prior to the military coup last July, Niger was a key democratic ally of the United States, France, and other European nations in the fight against Islamist militias in the Sahel region.
However, the junta terminated its military cooperation with the US in the battle against terrorism in March.
The future of the German Armed Forces’ air base in Niamey remains uncertain. State television aired footage of a Russian Ilyushin-76 aircraft landing at Niamey airport on Wednesday.
In the broadcast, a masked individual in military attire, with a fair complexion and a strong French accent, stated, “We are here to train the Niger army using the military equipment that has arrived here.” Since the military takeover on July 26, Niger has pursued a new path aimed at diversifying its partnerships to assert its sovereignty on the global stage.
The report further highlighted that Putin and Tchiani discussed the “strengthening of cross-sectoral and comprehensive strategic cooperation between Niger and Russia to address current threats, particularly in the security domain.”
Similar to its neighboring countries Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is shifting its focus away from Western partners, particularly France, its former colonial power, and towards Russia. All three nations have been under military rule following coups.
