(NewsWorthy.news) – Russian armed forces have entered a Nigerien air base that is also housing U.S. military personnel, according to a senior U.S. defense official.
The news of Russian and American soldiers sharing the base together follows the decision of Niger’s junta to sever its defense agreement with the White House. The junta’s choice to end the agreement with immediate effect prompted the U.S. to withdraw almost 1,000 troops from the nation. The U.S. had been a key partner in the country’s fight against insurgents before a coup in 2023. Now concern mounts over central African countries such as Niger and Chad forming closer diplomatic and security ties with the Kremlin instead.
The U.S. defense official stated that Russian troops were not mixing with the U.S. soldiers stationed at the base, clarifying that they were using another hangar at Airbase one, which is located in Niamey, the capital of Niger. Wagner mercenaries already had a well-established presence throughout Africa before their late leader Yevgeny Prigozhin rebelled against Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2023. Since then the group has rebranded itself as the “Africa Corps,” and military instructors from the group recently visited the Nigerien capital to construct an air defense base.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has stressed that the Russian troops pose no threat to American forces. U.S. troops have been active in Africa’s Sahel region due to the presence of several terrorist groups in the area, including ISIS. U.S. relations with Niger’s junta have deteriorated since the White House condemned the 2023 coup.
Spokesman for the Kremlin Dmitry Peskov said to reporters in Moscow that Russia has been working on strengthening ties with multiple African states in several areas, their armed forces included. Following the deposing of elected president Mohamed Bazoum in 2023, French and U.S. troops have been asked to leave the country. Russia, however, has been offering “regime stabilization” deals to the leaders of African countries, while continuing to rely on the rebranded Wagner mercenary group. Putin has denied claims that he has been working to oust Western powers from Africa to secure Russian influence in the continent, as critics noted that the “pretense” of Wagner as a private army allows the Kremlin to deny responsibility for Russian military activity in the Sahel region.
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