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Niger Sees Major Shift as Russian Forces Arrive, U.S. Presence Questioned

Protests in Niger's capital and the arrival of Russian military trainers mark a significant pivot in the nation's foreign military alliances.

Supporters of Niger's National Council for Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) hold up Niger's national flag and the national flag of Russia at the General Seyni Kountche stadium in Niamey on Agust 26, 2023.
FILE - Supporters of Niger's ruling junta, gather for a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference, in Niamey, Niger, Aug. 3, 2023. A top Pentagon official says that the U.S. has not received a formal request from Niger's junta to depart the country, saying instead it has received mixed signals on whether the hundreds of U.S. troops based there are no longer welcome.
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An unidentified purported Russian military trainer speaks to the media next to an airplane, in Niamey, Niger, April 10, 2024.

Overview

  • Hundreds of protesters in Niger's capital demand the departure of U.S. troops, reflecting growing anti-American sentiment.
  • Russian military trainers and air defense systems arrive in Niger, signaling a shift from Western to Russian security cooperation.
  • Niger's military government has ended military agreements with the U.S. and France, seeking greater sovereignty and regional security collaboration.
  • The arrival of Russian forces complicates the presence of U.S. military personnel, who have not yet been formally asked to leave.
  • Local concerns rise over the potential for permanent foreign military bases, echoing past occupations by Western forces.