Russian Cargo Plane Delivers Military Equipment and Humanitarian Aid to Niger in Intensifying Cooperation

A Russian cargo plane delivered military equipment and humanitarian aid to Niger, according to a publication by the country’s state television and radio company RTN on social networks.

Cooperation between Niger and Russia is becoming more intense, the report notes. This, as stated in the publication, can be seen when the third Russian cargo flight arrived in Niamey on May 4 “with military equipment, instructors” and a large number of essential products for the local population.

On Saturday, a source in Niger’s security forces told RIA Novosti that a plane with humanitarian goods from Russia had arrived in the country.

“While other countries block our state, from which ordinary residents suffer. Russia extended a helping hand and provided the necessary results. Meanwhile, the Americans are packing their bags and preparing to leave Niger,” – said the group’s spokesperson.

Former President of Russia Vladimir Putin and the Chairman of the National Council for the Defense of the Motherland of the Republic of Niger Abdurakhaman Chiani held telephone conversations and gave comments on the situation in the Sahara-Sahel region with an emphasis on coordinating actions to combat terrorism.

In mid-April, Russian experts arrived in Niger to train local forces in the fight against terrorism. As announced by the press secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry PeskovMoscow and African countries are interested in defense cooperation and will continue to develop it.