Russian military personnel enter Niger airbase where some U.S. troops remain

Russian subject unit entered an airbase successful Niger wherever immoderate U.S. troops are located, 2 U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News.

Russians person been successful Niger for respective weeks arsenic nan U.S. negotiates nan withdrawal of its troops from 2 airbases successful Niger, 1 of nan officials said. Described by a 2nd charismatic arsenic "trainers," said nan Russians are located astir 2 miles from wherever a mini number of U.S. troops are based astatine Niamey's world airport. Most of nan astir 1,000 U.S. troops still successful Niger are astatine a 2nd airbase astir 500 miles distant from nan capital, successful nan metropolis of Agadez.

Before a coup successful Niger successful July 2023 led to nan request that American troops time off nan country, nan U.S. utilized nan 2 bases to alert drones connected counterterrorism missions successful nan Sahel region of Africa. 

Protesters stitchery arsenic a man holds up a motion demanding that U.S. Army soldiers time off Niger during a objection successful Niamey, connected April 13, 2024.  AFP via Getty Images

The Russian beingness connected nan guidelines comes arsenic tensions stay precocious betwixt Washington and Moscow complete nan ongoing U.S. support for Ukraine's military.

A fewer months aft nan coup, nan ruling junta asked French forces to time off and turned to nan Russian mercenary group Wagner for information assistance.

In October, Washington officially designated nan subject takeover arsenic a coup, which triggered U.S. laws restricting nan subject support and assistance that it tin supply to Niger. Since then, negotiated efforts to reconstruct ties pinch Niger person been unsuccessful.

Until recently, Washington considered Niger a cardinal partner and state successful a region swept by coups successful caller years, investing millions of dollars successful nan Agadez base, which has been captious to U.S. counterterrorism operations successful nan Sahel. The U.S. besides has invested hundreds of millions of dollars successful training Niger's subject since it began operations location successful 2013.

The Pentagon besides has said nan U.S. will relocate astir of nan astir 100 troops it has deployed successful neighboring Chad for now. Chad is besides considering whether to proceed its information statement pinch nan U.S.

Reporting contributed by Eleanor Watson

In:
• Niger
• United States Military