French Expelled, Russia Sends Its Military Instructors to Niger
In an attempt to reduce tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, the Russian military presence in Syria is becoming more extensive
The French, branded by the people of Niger as “colonizers” and “oppressors,” gave way to Russian military trainers. They arrived this week in this West African country to train the national army. “We are here to train the Nigerian army and develop military cooperation between Russia and Niger,” one of the Russian instructors told Nigerian state broadcaster RTN-Télé Sachel (photo on the right). Russian Air Force Il-76 cargo planes landed at the capital’s Niamey airport, delivering dozens of military specialists, equipment, and other materials. According to Russian TV channel Izvestia, Russian military instructors “will pay special attention to the technical drilling of local servicemen, who will be trained to use some modern air defense systems.”
Since last summer, Russia has sent tens of thousands of tons of grain, food, and fertilizers to people in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Free of charge.
The arrival of the Russian military follows a recent agreement between the Interim Military Government of Niger and Russia to strengthen security cooperation. The Sahel country, one of the world’s largest uranium producers and exporters, has moved closer to Russia since the July 26, 2023, sacking of President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been accused of corruption and is currently under house arrest. Niger’s interim government has since severed long-standing military and diplomatic ties with France and, as neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso have done, is turning to Russia, which has been sending grain and fertilizer to these three African countries free of charge for months, to ask for support in repelling the jihadist insurgency.
Meanwhile in Syria, in an attempt to reduce tensions between Hezbollah and Israel, Russian armed forces based in the southern Arab country have established two new positions in the Syrian Golan. The Golan Heights is a territory located in southwestern Syria and northeastern Israel. According to Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) sources, the number of Russian posts in the border zone between the territories of Syria, Israel, and Lebanon has increased to 14.