Sahel: Niger gets military equipment from US

Posted On 11 December 2019

Number of times this article was read : 103

Niamey, Dec 10, 2019 – The United States is donating $21 million (19 million euros) of military equipment to Niger help fight jihadism in the Sahel region, an American diplomatic told AFP on Tuesday. The Americans have already handed over dozens of armoured vehicles, radio systems and armoured containers, US ambassador Eric Whitaker said, adding that more would arrive by February 2020 — including a military transport plane.

Niger takes part in a five-nation anti-jihadist task force known as the G5, set up in 2014 with Burkina Faso, Mali, Mauritania and Chad. Jihadist militants operate on Niger’s northern borders with Mali and Libya and its southeastern border with Nigeria is plagued by from the Boko Haram group. Washington has increased its military presence in Niger since signing a military agreement in 2015 promising to “work together on the fight against terrorism”.

The United States runs a massive base for drones in the northern city of Agadez, giving it a platform for surveillance in the Sahel. In October 2017, four US soldiers and five Nigerien soldiers were killed in a jihadist ambush in Tongo Tongo, a village near the Mali frontier.

By AFP

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.

Most Recent Stories from the Region

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Book: Lafarge Group and the Islamic State

Lafarge’s indictment for financing terrorism reveals corporate entanglements with ISIS to maintain operations in Syria. In Personne morale, Justine Augier exposes how multinationals like Lafarge navigate ethics and profit in conflict zones, raising questions on global accountability.

Written by The North Africa Journal

The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This