May 03, 2024
Russians sent to Niger airbase occupied by US troops
Russia has moved some troops onto an airbase in Niger where a small number of U.S. forces remain after most American troops left the base in the nation’s capital, Niamey, a U.S. official said Thursday.
The arrival of Russian trainers in the West African country about three weeks ago came in the wake of Niger’s decision to order out all U.S. troops. The order dealt a blow to U.S. military operations in the Sahel, a vast region south of the Sahara desert where groups linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group operate.
The Pentagon has said the U.S. troops will depart but has not provided a precise timeline.
When Russian troops arrived last month, it wasn’t clear where they were staying.
A U.S. official said they are now located on the other side of the Niamey facility, known as Airbase 101, and are not near U.S. forces. The base is by the Diori Hamani International Airport, where other international forces — such as the Germans and Italians — also reside.
The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss troop movements. It’s not clear exactly how many U.S. troops remain at the Niamey base.
The Russian presence on the base comes as tensions remain high between Washington and Moscow over the ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine’s military.
Niger is in Africa’s Sahel region, which is considered the new global epicentre of the Islamic State group.
The US has relied on the country as its primary base for monitoring regional jihadist activity, but its relations with the country’s ruling military regime have deteriorated since it condemned last year’s coup.
In turn, Niger has turned to Russia for assistance fighting Islamist insurgents in the south of the country.
