Russia (Washington Insider Magazine)—In a significant shift in West African security dynamics, Russian military trainers and equipment, including an air defense system, arrived in Niger, marking deepened military ties with Moscow. Niger’s military government, which expelled French forces earlier this year, aims to secure its airspace and fortify its defenses against armed insurgencies across the Sahel region. Russian state broadcaster Tele Sahel reported the arrival of equipment and instructors, while Radio Television du Niger confirmed 100 Russian instructors landed in Niamey.
Following the July coup that ousted Niger’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the nation has steadily pivoted from Western alliances to a partnership with Russia. This move aligns Niger with other military-led Sahel nations like Mali and Burkina Faso, which also shifted alliances after recent coups. The three nations have formed a joint force to tackle escalating violence and the humanitarian crisis in the region, where over three million people remain displaced.
Russia’s growing influence in Africa, promoted as support without colonial ties, presents a significant shift in the region’s strategic alignment. Niger’s strengthened ties with Russia come amid U.S. restrictions on its 1,000 troops in Niger following the coup, which halted cooperative military operations on the ground.
