Russia Sends Military Advisors, Equipment to Niger

Facts

• Niger's state media has reported that new Russian military advisers and equipment have reached the country. This comes after Niger terminated a military cooperation agreement with the US and expelled French troops deployed on its soil.¹
• The Africa Corps — considered the successor to the Russian Wagner paramilitary group in Africa — has confirmed that two military transporters landed in the West African country on Saturday.²
• In addition, a large Russian shipment of food and other basic supplies arrived in the landlocked Sahel country, which is reportedly seeking to strengthen its political and military ties with Moscow.³
• The deployment of military personnel follows earlier reports of a Russian cargo plane with some 100 military advisors, equipment, and air defense systems being sent to Niger last month.⁴
• Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed on Friday that Russian security personnel arrived at an air base in Niger where US troops are also stationed but in a separate building with no access to US troops or equipment.⁵
• In March, Niger's military government called on Washington to withdraw its almost 1K troops from the country. Before last July's military coup, Niger was considered a key US partner in fighting a regional Islamist insurgency.⁶

Sources: ¹arabnews.com, ²The Moscow Times, ³Business Insider, ⁴WE News, ⁵Guardian and ⁶Al Jazeera.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by politico.com. The Russian troop deployment proves that Moscow is eager to capitalize on anti-Western sentiment in Niger. That US troops now share a base with Russia's ruthless Africa Corps poses a certain security risk to the US, but it's primarily Niger's security that's at stake. While Moscow seeks to exploit Niger's resources, Islamist violence is on the rise since the forced withdrawal of Western troops. Niger's junta should think twice about turning its back on the US.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by RT International. That Russia is sending fresh military advisors and hardware to Niger is good news for the country and its people. The neocolonial West pretends to care about democracy while waging a never-ending war on terror in the Sahel to control its resources. However, times have changed, and African nations are increasingly rejecting Washington's hegemonic 'rules-based order.' Russia stands ready to back Niger in its quest for genuine independence and peace.

Predictions