By Kathryn Armstrong in London & Chris Ewokor in AbujaBBC News1 hour agoImage supply, Getty ImagesImage caption, Niger is among the many nations within the Sahel area to have strengthened army ties with RussiaDozens of Russian army instructors have arrived in Niger as a part of a brand new accord with the nation’s junta, which has minimize hyperlinks with its Western allies. State media report that they arrived together with a state-of-the-art air defence system.They’re anticipated to put in the system and educate Niger’s military learn how to use it. The West African nation is one in every of three combating an Islamist insurgency within the Sahel area to have just lately strengthened ties with Russia.A spokesperson for Niger’s army authorities on Friday mentioned the Russians had been within the nation to coach troopers. The Russian Defence Ministry’s paramilitary group Africa Corps, also referred to as the Russian Expeditionary Corps (REK), wrote on Telegram that this was the primary group of servicemen and volunteers to go to Niger.In an connected video, a serviceman of the corps mentioned in French that they had been there to “develop military cooperation” between the nations and had introduced “various special military equipment” to assist with coaching.Footage of the Russian instructors unloading a cargo aircraft full of apparatus was broadcast on Niger’s state tv. Ulf Laessing, a specialist within the Sahel area for the Konrad Adenauer Basis, which promotes democracy, advised the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme that the army provides seemed to be a part of a “regime survival package”. Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown final yr by the junta, which has since minimize army and diplomatic ties with France – the previous colonial energy – and revoked an settlement with the US. Mr Laessing mentioned the army authorities was nonetheless involved about some type of bodily interference in Niger by the political and financial alliance of West African states, often known as Ecowas. He added that that is most likely the explanation for the provision of a Russian air defence system, fairly than to assist suppress Islamist fighters. “I don’t have any other explanations because jihadists don’t have planes,” Mr Laessing mentioned. Niger has been dealing with elevated violence by the Islamic State group, in addition to the persevering with risk of Boko Haram militants alongside its border with Nigeria. Earlier this week, at the least six troopers had been killed in a blast within the Tillabery area close to the border with Mali. Niger’s defence ministry, which confirmed the assault, mentioned a military patrol car hit a landmine close to the south-western village of Tingara earlier this week, killing a few of the troopers. Others had been wounded and had been taken to hospital. The ministry mentioned it had carried out an air strike to neutralise these liable for planting the selfmade land mine.Whereas the army authorities cited worsening insecurity in Niger as the explanation for the coup, experiences point out that insurgents have continued to hold out assaults in components of the nation – virtually on a month-to-month foundation – particularly within the Tillabery area.You may additionally be involved in:
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