Strategic Standoff: Niger Base Becomes Russian Territory Amidst Moscow-Washington Rift
Cairo: Hani Kamal El-Din
Russian military personnel have established a presence at the territory of Airbase 101 in Niger, where American troops are stationed, according to reports from Reuters and CNN citing sources within the Pentagon.
Sources indicate that the Russians are utilizing a separate hangar at the airbase. However, the base itself is not particularly spacious, as noted by one of CNN’s sources. A Reuters informant described the situation as “not very good, but manageable in the short term.” The US has communicated to Nigerien authorities that American servicemen cannot coexist on the base with Russian military personnel.
The proximity of Russian and American forces comes amidst heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington over the conflict in Ukraine, various publications point out.
Approximately a thousand American troops are stationed in Niger, engaged in counterterrorism efforts and joint patrols with local personnel to monitor the country’s territory. Last year witnessed a military coup in the country, which Washington deemed unlawful. In March, the Nigerien junta demanded the withdrawal of US troops, and after a series of attempts to resolve the issue, Washington agreed to do so within a few months.
The American Airbase 101 was constructed six years ago at a cost of $110 million, as highlighted by The Washington Post and The New York Times.
Bloomberg sources earlier this year discussed plans to deploy the Russian “African Corps” in Niger, intended to replace Wagner Group missions on the continent. This unit was planned to include former Wagner personnel and newcomers, with subsequent deployments to four other countries: Libya, Central African Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
In April, Russia’s RIA Novosti reported the arrival of Russian specialists in Niger. The “African Corps” is currently working on normalizing relations and conducting joint training with the Nigerien army. “We have brought with us a training base and educational materials to train various experts,” one of the arrivals told the agency.
According to Ibrahim Yahya, senior analyst at the International Crisis Group for the Sahel region, the primary reason for Russia-Niger contacts is Moscow’s protection of the local regime. “Their only fear is an air attack. The country that provides them with air defense is Russia,” the expert explained.
“One real advantage Russians have over the United States is that they have weapons and they sell them, including small arms and helicopters. Africa has many security issues, and Africans need weapons,” admitted a US official in a conversation with Politico.
The arrival of Russian personnel in itself does not indicate a complete rupture between Niger and the US; short-term presence of military instructors is a routine part of arms sales deals, concluded a Washington Post source among US officials.
