After ending its military partnerships with the USA and France, Niger is looking to strengthen its military ties with Russia to train its national army.
In an interview with the Russian news agency “TASS”, Niger’s Minister of the Interior, Public Security and Territorial Administration, Mohamed Toumba, confirmed this interest to journalists on the sidelines of the 12th international Meeting of High Representatives in charge of security issues, in Saint Petersburg from April 22 to 25, 2024.
The Nigerien Interior Minister felt that this training could increase the capacity of Niger’s army in its fight against terrorism.
“We would like Russia to train our troops, and this training also applies to combat and the use of weapons. We are interested in buying weapons”, he declared.
On April 10, Russian military instructors arrived in Niamey aboard a plane loaded with military equipment, in accordance with an agreement between the two countries to strengthen cooperation.
With regard to the withdrawal of the American army from Niger following the divorce announced between the two sides a month ago, Mohamed Toumba stressed that Niger was ready to receive the American generals to discuss a withdrawal plan that would satisfy both countries.
Niger’s population is also expressing its dissatisfaction with the US military presence through massive demonstrations organized in various cities across the country.
On April 21, 2024, in the Agadez region, where the US military base is located, thousands of people demonstrated to demand the immediate departure of Washington’s troops.
For the people of Niger, the presence of the Americans has brought nothing to the region. “As we’ve always said, this base is useless, and no one, no Nigeriens, can tell you what goes on inside it. So this is a humiliation for our people”, explains Slimane Ag Ibrahim, a civil society activist from Agadez.
It’s clear that the countries of the Sahel are in the process of changing their allies in all areas, especially the military, with the aim of regaining their power and independence.
The creation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) in September 2023, is proof of the ability of the countries in this region to form a cooperation capable of controlling several fronts without recourse to the Western powers that have been seeking to realize their interests in Africa for several decades.
