Niger Receives $13M US Kit for Jihadist Fight

Niger has received new military equipment from Washington to support its fight against jihadists afflicting the west and southeast of the country, the Defense Ministry of Niamey stated. The shipment consisted mainly of vehicles – including armored models, of wich 43 off-road vehicles and 8 armored vehicles – with the consignment worth $13 million. The equipment will be used for a German-funded special forces training center in Tillia, in the western Tahoua Region, where Jihadist groups affiliated to the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda are active. The equipment will also be used to train Niger soldiers serving with the United Nations mission in Mali, which also faces jihadist violence. According to the agreement, the US military must also “train Niger’s military in the fight against terrorism”.