Russian military trainers arrive in Niger as relations deteriorate with the U.S.
NBCAPR 2 2024
The people's frustration over widespread insecurity is justified, but blaming the Western military presence in Niger is not. The junta is turning the population against the West while embracing Russia — not for effective counterterrorism but primarily to bolster its own rule through Moscow's military presence. Kicking out Europe and the US and replacing them with Russia will hamper the fight against terrorism, and protests against the Russian military are only a matter of time.
Following the withdrawal of French troops from Niger, it's only natural that the people are now also calling for the US military to leave the country. Citizens are standing by the transitional government and no longer tolerate the occupation of Niger by Western forces under the pretext of fighting terrorism. All over the Sahel, people are rising calling for closer ties with Moscow, but Niger will not fall into the trap of replacing Western dominance with that of Russia.