New military “advisers” of the Kremlin regime, along with Russian equipment and weapons, arrived in Niger at the weekend, according to state television in Niamey, as Russia strengthens its presence on the African continent in the neo-colonial style established by the group Wagner, reports The Moscow Times.
The military regime in Niger, which imposed itself on the leadership of the country in a coup d’état last summer, has been in the Russian orbit from the very beginning and recently asked the American forces in the area to leave the country.
A first group of 100 Russian “military advisers” arrived in Niger on April 10, along with air defense systems.
Two more military carriers arrived in the African country on Saturday, and according to Niger’s state media, Russia has sent three more cargo planes with military supplies and “instructors” in the past month.
The African Corps, the military group seen as Wagner’s successor in Africa, confirmed the arrival of Russian “instructors” last month. On Saturday, he confirmed the arrival of more materials and a more extensive presence of soldiers of the criminal regime in the Kremlin.
The United States agreed in April to withdraw its approximately 1,000 troops from the country. The US military had a base near Agadez, built at a cost of around $100 million.
Niger appears to be falling fully into the Russian sphere of influence in Africa, along with other neighboring countries that have fallen prey to military coups and opportunistic pro-Russian leaders. In Mali and Burkina Faso, there were military coups, followed by a deep rapprochement with Russia.
In April, Idrissa Soumana Maiga, the editor of an independent newspaper, L’Enqueteur, was jailed after publishing an article reporting that the Russians had installed listening devices in official buildings in the country.
Editor: Adrian Dumitru
Tags: Russia infiltrating Africa deeper deeper neocolonial style Kremlin advisors Russian weapons arrived Niger
