According to a revelation from Niger state television, Russian instructors and military equipment arrived in the country on Wednesday April 10. This is the first delivery of Russian military equipment in Niger’s recent history and proof of the strengthening of the partnership between the two countries.
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In images from Nigerien national television, an Iliouchine plane carrying equipment and men lands at Niamey airport. No mention of the number of men or their quality is made, it is also impossible to know if they are regular soldiers of the Russian Federation or militiamen of the Africa Corps company – Russian military corps which replaced the Wagner group. They are just described as ” instructors of the Russian Ministry of Defense “.
Only two of its members, hooded up to their eyes, are filmed from the front by national television. One declares to be present for develop military cooperation between Niger and Russia And ” to train the Niger army and help it use the military equipment that has just arrived “.
On the equipment, no inventory is advanced, apart from the provision and installation of a “ latest generation anti-aircraft system “.
The strengthening of cooperation between Russia and Niger is anything but a surprise. Neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, with whom Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), have been touting their partnership with Moscow for several months.
THE Niger also denounced the military cooperation agreement with the United States in March, with immediate effect. Yet, more than 1,000 American troops are still positioned in the country, the majority of which within air base 101 in the city of Agadez. This base is highly strategic for providing intelligence: several drones and surveillance helicopters are positioned there.
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