Niger’s state television disclosed late on Thursday the arrival of Russian military instructors in Niger, along with an air defense system and other essential equipment, marking a significant stride in the West African nation’s burgeoning security collaboration with Moscow.
This development comes after Niger’s military government, in January, opted to enhance security cooperation with Russia, following the expulsion of French forces engaged in counter-jihadist operations across several Sahel nations.
On Friday, the African Corps, viewed as the successor to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group in Africa, confirmed its presence in Niger.
Tele Sahel, the state broadcaster, showcased footage of a Russian transport plane touching down at Niamey airport on Wednesday night, heralding the arrival of “the latest military equipment and military instructors from the Russian defense ministry.”
The report emphasized Russia’s commitment to assisting Niger in “installing an air defense system… to ensure complete control of our airspace.”
An instructor underscored the mission’s focus on training the Niger army and facilitating the utilization of the newly arrived equipment across various military specializations.
“The first flight of African Corps troops and volunteers has arrived in Niger,” the group wrote on Telegram.
Initially operating unofficially to advance Kremlin’s interests in Africa since the 2010s, the Wagner mercenary group has now been rebranded as the African Corps and restructured following the demise of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, in a mysterious plane crash in August 2023. The group is now operating under the Kremlin’s auspices, signaling an official acknowledgment of Russia’s involvement in the Sahel region.
General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of Niger’s military government, engaged in a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 26, discussing security cooperation and “global strategic cooperation” against prevalent threats, as per authorities, although specifics were not divulged.
Niger, grappling with extreme poverty, had formerly aligned with the West in combating Sahel jihadists but shifted its allegiance to Russia after the ousting of the elected president last July.
In tandem with neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both under military rule post-coups, Niger formed a joint force to combat persistent jihadist uprisings.
The junta’s expulsion of French forces, former colonial power, signaled a strategic shift, with France’s 1,500 troops exiting Niger by the close of the previous year.
Additionally, the military announced the termination of a 2012 agreement with the United States, which had established a desert drone base costing $100 million in northern Niger and stationed around 1,000 troops in the country.
