Violence within the area has worsened since coups in Niger and its neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso.
Russian navy trainers have arrived in Niger with an air defence system and different tools as a part of the West African nation’s deepening safety ties with Moscow, state media reported.
Niger’s navy authorities agreed in January to step up navy cooperation with Russia, after expelling French forces that had been serving to struggle armed rebellions in a number of Sahel nations.
Broadcaster Tele Sahel confirmed a Russian transport airplane arriving at Niamey airport, because it reported late on Thursday that “the most recent navy tools and navy instructors” from Russia’s Ministry of Defence had landed within the capital.
Russia will assist “set up an air defence system … to make sure full management of our airspace”, the report mentioned.
State-run Radio Tv du Niger mentioned on its Fb web page that 100 Russian navy instructors had arrived in Niamey.
There was no fast remark from Russia, which has been in search of to spice up its affect in Africa, selling itself as a pleasant nation with out a colonial background on the continent.
‘International strategic cooperation’
Niger, one of many world’s poorest nations, had been a front-line accomplice of the West in battling armed fighters within the Sahel however has turned to Russia since a coup final July overthrew elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
In March, Niger determined to revoke its navy accord with america that had allowed Pentagon personnel to function on its soil from two bases, together with a drone base it constructed at a value of greater than $100m.
The US nonetheless maintains about 1,000 troopers in Niger, however their actions have been restricted because the coup.
The pinnacle of the navy authorities, Common Abdourahamane Tchiani, spoke by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin in March to debate “world strategic cooperation” towards “present threats”, authorities mentioned on the time, with out elaborating.
Niger has joined neighbours Mali and Burkina Faso – additionally dominated by navy leaders after coups – to create a joint power to battle long-running armed rebellions.
Violence within the area has worsened because the coups, the instability exacerbating a humanitarian disaster within the area bordering the Sahara desert. As of March, greater than three million individuals had been displaced there, the Worldwide Group of Migration mentioned this week.