01.05.2024, Niamey.
Niger is interested in having Russian military specialists train local security forces, Niger’s Interior Minister Mohammed Toumba said on April 24 during the 12th International Meeting of High Representatives in Charge of Security Issues held in St. Petersburg.
According to the head of the Interior Ministry of Niger, his country wants to establish cooperation with Russia in the military sphere.
“Our cooperation with Russia concerns military training, which is necessary to fight terrorism. We want the Russians to teach our troops how to fight and use weapons. We plan to buy weapons from Russia,” Toumba said.
This statement by the head of the Interior Ministry of Niger came against the background of Niamey’s decision to expel the US military from the territory of the country. On March 16, 2024, the new authorities of Niger decided to break the military agreement with the United States.
On April 12, it became known about the arrival of Russian military instructors and air defense systems in Niger.
Emergency negotiations of US diplomats with the authorities of Niger did not yield any results. On April 19, Washington, trying to save face, announced its intention to withdraw 1000 of its servicemen from the territory of the African state.
The decision of the authorities of Niger is also supported by the population of the country. On April 21, 2024 in the north of Niger in the city of Agadez, where the US military base is located, a rally was held where hundreds of residents of the city demanded the departure of the Americans. Dozens of Malian, Nigerian, Burkinabe and Russian flags were unfurled during the demonstration.
On July 26, 2023, the Nigerian military announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum from power. The military, who called themselves the National Security Council of Niger, explained their actions by the “constant deterioration of the security situation, poor socio-economic management.”
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
