According to Niamey’s defence ministry, Niger has received new military hardware from Washington to aid in its fight against the jihadists wreaking havoc in the country’s west and southeast.
According to the ministry, the shipment is mostly made up of armoured vehicles and is valued $13 million (8.5 billion CFA francs).
In light of the “increase in capability” of the Niger Armed Forces, the fresh assistance for Niger “is confirmation of the strength of our relations with the United States,” according to Defense Minister Alkassoum Indatou, who received the supplies in Niamey.
The tools will be put to use in a special forces training facility sponsored by Germany that will be built in Tillia, in the western Tahoua region, where there are active ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates.
The tools will also be used to teach Niger soldiers who are part of the UN operation in Mali, another country that deals with terrorism.
Since 2015, Niger and the US have had a military cooperation agreement on “security and good governance,” as well as a commitment to “cooperate in the fight against terrorism.”
According to the deal, the US military must also “train Niger’s military in the battle against terrorism.”
