Russian troops enter base in Niger where American soldiers are staying, a US official says

WASHINGTON: Russian military forces have invaded an air base in Niger housing US troops, a senior US defense official told Western media on Thursday.

The development comes after a decision by the Nigerien junta to expel US troops from the African country.

Military officials ruling Niger have asked the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military troops from the country, which until last year’s coup had been a closer partner in Washington’s fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and left millions displaced.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not among U.S. personnel but were using another hanger at Air Base 101.

The Russian move raises questions

The Russian move also raises questions about the fate of American deployments in the country after a withdrawal.

The US and its allies have been forced to withdraw troops from several African countries after coups that brought to power groups seeking to distance themselves from Western countries.

In addition to the withdrawal from Niger, US troops have also left Chad in recent days, while French troops have withdrawn from Mali and Burkina Faso.

At the same time, Russia is trying to strengthen ties with African countries by portraying Moscow as a friendly country without a colonial background.

Mali, for example, has become one of Russia’s closest allies in Africa in recent years, with Wagner Group mercenaries deployed there to fight jihadists.

Russia has described ties with the United States as negative over US military and financial support for Ukraine in the war.