Russian military trainers and equipment arrive in Niger
Russian military trainers arrived in Niger, on board a plane loaded with military equipment, provided by the country’s new Russian ally, after it expelled its old and traditional ally, France.
Nigerien state television broadcast footage of an Ilyushin-76 military cargo plane unloading equipment, and also talked about Russia’s agreement to install an anti-aircraft system in Niger.
Nigerien television explained that the Russian military trainers, whose number was not specified, will provide high-quality training to Nigerien soldiers.
The Nigerian transitional president, General Abdourahamane Tiani, spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 26, about strengthening security cooperation between the two countries, in order to confront current threats, according to an official statement issued by the Nigerian transitional authority.
Before that, in mid-January, Russia announced its agreement to intensify its military cooperation with Niger.
This announcement was preceded by a Russian delegation’s visit to Niamey in December, to hold talks with the Transitional Council, after which agreements were signed on strengthening military cooperation.
The arrival of Russian trainers to Niger, and the country’s receipt of Russian military equipment, comes after Niamey announced in mid-March 2024 the immediate cancellation of the military cooperation agreement signed with the United States in 2012.
Accordingly, it’s expected that US military forces, numbering more than 1,000 soldiers, will withdraw from Niger, but an official date for withdrawal hasn’t yet been set.
Last December, the Nigerien army announced the completion of the withdrawal of French forces from the country, after a 10-year presence, during which Paris remained an ally of Niamey, until the army overthrew the elected civilian president, Mohamed Bazoum, at the end of last July.
