While Mohamed Bazoum is very close to Paris, Niger has just announced that it will continue its military partnership with Russia.
The partnership with Moscow is so “beneficial” that it deserves to be continued. In summary, this is the position of the Nigerian authorities regarding military cooperation with Russia. Last Tuesday, Niger Defense Minister Alkassoum Indatou received the Russian Ambassador to Niger Igor Gromyko and the head of the Russian military mission in Niger.
Following the meeting, the Nigerian Ministry of Defense noted that “this beneficial cooperation for our country will continue in the future.” Niger and Russia are working on several aspects, including training – more than a hundred Nigerian officers have benefited from training in Russia – and armaments, as “several aircraft used by the Nigerian Air Force’s counter-terrorism-related army are also of Russian manufacture”, specifies the ministry.
A departure that could worry Paris. France is critical of military cooperation between African countries and Russia. Outraged by Mali, with which relations are stormy, especially because of the rapprochement between Moscow and Bamako, Emmanuel Macron warned some of his partners, such as Madagascar.
Last March, Niamey responded to Western expectations by condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. “Niger, as pointed out by Niger’s Ambassador to the UN, Abdou Abary, reiterates its strong condemnation of the use of force to resolve disputes between states.” The diplomat then specified that “Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine is therefore an act that my country condemns”.
An indispensable partnership?
Mohamed Bazoum had set himself up as Emmanuel Macron’s spokesman in recent months. In particular, he condemned the military coups and had offered to welcome the French soldiers of Operation Barkhane who had been driven out of Mali.
It remains to be seen if Niamey will reach a point of no return in the fight against terrorism – namely the paramilitary company Wagner. The presence of Russian mercenaries in Mali and the Central African Republic particularly irritates France.
Partnerships with other foreign powers could also be called into question: Great Britain announced in the past few days that it would withdraw its troops from Mali while Great Britain was still engaged there. On the African side, Côte d’Ivoire will also end its military cooperation with Mali in 2023.
In any case, the people of Niger seem ready to fight with France. In September, several hundred people demonstrated in the streets of Niamey to protest against the French force Barkhane.
The M62 movement, which brings together several civil society organizations, was founded last August. He is committed to “preserving the sovereignty and dignity of the people”. Balloté, will President Bazoum try to free himself from the French yoke? Since leaving Mali, 3 French soldiers have been deployed in the Sahel, particularly in Niger. But the fight against terrorism is not progressing. And Russian aid now appears to be more than an option.
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