Russian experts in Niger to train forces against terrorism: Sputnik

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Sputnik
12 Apr 2024 10:06
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Niger's state broadcaster announces that the arrival of the forces includes the installation of an air defense system, through which Russian instructors will provide quality training for the Nigerien military staff.

Supporters of Niger's ruling junta hold a Russian flag at the start of a protest in Niamey, Niger, on August 3, 2023. (AP)

Reporting from the scene, a correspondent from Sputnik revealed that Russian experts have landed in Niger in an effort to train local forces on combating terrorism.

"Now, the African corps here will be building relationships and jointly forming and training the Nigerien army. We have brought with us a training and material base to train various specialists. We have a lot of experience in combating terrorism. And we are here to share this experience with our friends," one of the specialists told Sputnik.

"The personnel is fully prepared and vaccinated against deceases[sic], was acquainted with local deceases... I think we will manage," a Russian medical worker with the team said.

The landing of Russia's IL-76 aircraft in Niamey was aired by Nigerien state broadcaster RTN which stated that this update came after a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin and chairman of Niger’s National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland Abdourahmane Tchiani.

🇷🇺🇳🇪 | #Niger: Russian forces arrive in the African country of Niger on board Ilyushin Il-76 transport planes (one of the borts visible is RF-78795).

Following a military coup in 2023, Niger's new junta tightened ties with Russia. French troops withdrew from the country by the… pic.twitter.com/taWmC49G0I
— Status-6 (Military & Conflict News) (@Archer83Able) April 11, 2024

The broadcaster announced that the arrival entails the installation of an air defense system through which Russian instructors will provide quality training for the Nigerien military staff.

Niger's changing political landscape

The newly established leadership in Niger assumed control of the landlocked country on July 26, following the overthrow of former President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup. Since then, they have undertaken various measures to reevaluate relationships with foreign partners.

France completed the withdrawal of its troops from Niamey last week. These forces had been involved in countering a decade-long extremist insurgency in the Sahel region. But after all this time, they failed to attain any tangible accomplishments, raising questions about the true motives behind the French presence in Niger. The departure came in response to the demand from coup leaders that French forces leave the area.

Presently, the US maintains a deployment of 648 troops across two bases in the former French colony. In 2017, the Nigerien government granted approval for the deployment of armed US drones to target militants as part of the Sahel counterterrorism mission. Despite participating with France and other Western allies in withholding aid to Niamey in response to Bazoum's ouster, Washington has asserted that disengagement from Niger is not a viable option.

As of September, Germany had approximately 110 soldiers stationed in the uranium-rich nation, while Italy had around 300 soldiers deployed there prior to the coup.