The connection between the US and Niger, which for years had been a key Western ally, had grown tense after army leaders seized energy in a coup final yr and people ties additional deteriorated after a visit final month by prime U.S. officers to Niamey, the capital. Even after the Nigerien junta declared the U.S. army presence “unlawful” and accused the delegation of condescension, U.S. officers proceed to negotiate in closed-door talks over whether or not they might retain some kind of safety presence within the nation.
The arrival of Russian personnel seems to point that the junta is making it tough, if not unattainable, for the U.S. presence to proceed, mentioned Andrew Lebovich, a analysis fellow with the Clingendael Institute who focuses on Niger.
“This actually leaves a black eye for Washington in Niger,” mentioned Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow on the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research. “The arrival of Russian forces is the cherry on prime.”
Hudson mentioned the arrival of Russian troops additionally introduces a priority that they may finally occupy U.S. bases in Niger. There are nonetheless greater than 1,000 U.S. service members stationed in Niger, in addition to a big drone base that U.S. officers say has been key for monitoring violent extremist teams.
The arrival of the Russian troops isn’t by itself an indication that Niger is making a full flip away from Washington, one U.S. official mentioned, talking on the situation of anonymity to debate delicate closed-door discussions with leaders in Niamey. A brief-term presence of army trainers is a typical a part of an arms deal, the official mentioned, and Niger’s leaders already introduced that they deliberate to buy weapons from Russia.
“They claimed they don’t need the presence of Russian troops, however that they would want trainers,” the official mentioned.
However the official mentioned that talks proceed.
“There’s a ceiling on the sort of relationship you may have with the US relying on the sort of relationship you determine to ascertain with Russia,” the official mentioned. “There’s a slim path right here to a deal that addresses their pursuits and issues and our pursuits and issues. So we might not be capable to stroll down that path. It’s nonetheless price having the dialogue.”
In its report, Nigerien state tv specified that the Russians had introduced an air protection system to make sure “whole management” of Niger’s airspace. The report confirmed an airplane with a Russian flag on its wing being unloaded in Niamey on Wednesday night time.
Russian state media recognized the boys as a part of Africa Corps, which is now a part of the Ministry of Protection and described by Russian officers as a successor to the Wagner mercenary group, which had a broad, usually murky presence in Africa earlier than being disbanded final yr.
The Russian deployment in Niger adopted a dialog between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani on March 26, in accordance with Nigerien and Russian state media, through which the 2 leaders mentioned rising their cooperation, significantly on safety issues.
The Nigerien junta’s choice to finish its army agreements with the US got here on the heels of conferences with a U.S. delegation together with Gen. Michael E. Langley, who heads U.S. army operations in Africa; Molly Phee, the State Division’s prime official for African affairs; and Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of protection for worldwide safety affairs. The junta’s spokesman mentioned that the delegation had tried to dictate which international locations the West African nation couldn’t have relationships with, together with Iran and Russia.
Hudson mentioned the episode speaks to an issue in Washington between “rhetoric and actuality” by way of its insurance policies in Africa. Though officers in Washington have usually publicly spoken about African leaders with the ability to select their companions, he mentioned, their posture has been totally different behind closed doorways.
“Washington has a scarcity of self-awareness about how it’s coming throughout,” he mentioned. “They’ve made Russia the boogeyman in all of this, like what the French have performed, however that may be a technique to deflect accountability and to keep away from any sort of introspection concerning the insurance policies the U.S. has pursued.”
The West African international locations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have in recent times been racked by violence linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, and army juntas have mounted coups towards democratically elected leaders, citing the safety state of affairs. The juntas’ rhetoric trumpets sovereignty and a rejection of France, their former colonial energy, and so they have more and more appeared to Russia and different international locations for assistance on safety issues.
In Mali, greater than 1,000 Russian troopers have been combating alongside the military, whereas Burkina Faso welcomed Russian trainers earlier this yr.
Lebovich, the analysis fellow with the Clingendael Institute, mentioned the selection of accepting an air protection system from Russia is attention-grabbing provided that Islamist militant teams aren’t threatening the nation’s airspace. “This may be seen as symbolizing sovereignty,” Lebovich mentioned.
For the reason that junta’s announcement concerning the finish of the army agreements between the US and Niger, there have been rising calls amongst Nigeriens for People to depart. Fliers for a protest in Niamey scheduled for Saturday towards the U.S. presence name on Nigeriens to “come out massively” — echoing calls that final yr preceded the departure of French troops.
Abdoulaye Oussein, 51 who leads a brand new civil society group in Niamey, mentioned that Niger and Russia would have a “win-win partnership” and that he was proud that Russian instructors would prepare Niger’s army. “Why is it an issue for the People and France that the Russians are serving to us?” he requested. “I feel we’re free to make our personal selections.”
Omar Hama Saley in Niamey and Francesca Ebel in London contributed to this report.
