Russian soldiers have moved into a US air base near Niamey, the capital of Niger. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed this to international news agencies on Friday. It concerns about sixty Russians who have been staying in the West African country for three weeks. There are also an unknown number of American soldiers at the airport.
It is striking that these Russian soldiers are based at the United States air base in Niamey. Both superpowers want influence in the Sahel region and are now almost literally on each other’s lips. Tensions between the two countries are also increasing due to American support for Ukraine. “The Russians are in another hangar and have no access to the American forces or access to our equipment,” said Secretary Austin. He continues to monitor their presence.
For years, the US military focused from Niger on the fight against jihadist groups, including Islamic State militants. Since the military junta staged a coup in July 2023, relations between Niamey and Washington have deteriorated dramatically. In mid-March, the junta decided to immediately stop American cooperation, as it would no longer be in the interest of the Nigerien people. The US will soon close its two military bases in the country.
The military rulers, like neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Mali, are turning against Western allies such as the US and former colonizer France. Instead, they are strengthening ties with Russia. “We are developing ties with African countries in all kinds of areas, including militarily,” the Kremlin said on Friday about the presence of Russians at the American base. At the beginning of this year, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali left the West African partnership ECOWAS.
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