Russian troops enter base housing US military in Niger, US official says

WASHINGTON: Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting US troops, a senior US defense official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger’s junta to expel US forces.

The military officers ruling the West African nation have told the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington’s fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

A senior US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not mingling with US troops but were using a separate hangar at Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger’s capital.

The move by Russia’s military, which Reuters was the first to report, puts US and Russian troops in close proximity at a time when the nations’ military and diplomatic rivalry is increasingly acrimonious over the conflict in Ukraine.

It also raises questions about the fate of US installations in the country following a withdrawal.

“(The situation) is not great but in the short-term manageable,” the official said.

The revelation of Russian troops entering Niger has sparked concerns among international observers and policymakers. Given Niger’s status as a key partner for Western countries in counterterrorism efforts, the presence of Russian forces could complicate regional dynamics.

Furthermore, this development underscores the need for heightened vigilance and diplomatic engagement to address emerging security challenges in the Sahel region.
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