U.S. Military Equipment to Niger for combating counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, and trafficking: China $$$ for trade, hospitals, Media

Military equipment enables the G5 Joint Force Sahel fight against terrorism 

The Joint Force’s missions include combating counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, and trafficking in the Sahel, a region that has seen an increase in violence since 2017.

The United States donated more than $8 million in military equipment to Niger in a ceremony Aug. 5. The equipment will aid the West African nation and its G5 Sahel Joint Force partners in the fight against terrorism in the region. 

“As we have seen with the recent deadly attack on innocent civilians in Niger, security continues to be a concern in the Sahel,” said Mr. Jer Donald Get, deputy director security cooperation, U.S. Africa Command. “This donation is just one way AFRICOM supports our Nigerien and G5 Sahel Joint Force partners in their fight against terrorism.”

The equipment donated includes 15 Osprea MK7 MAMBA armored personnel carriers, four Osprea MK7 MAMBA armored command vehicles, three Osprea MK7 MAMBA armored ambulances, two Toyota land cruiser ambulances, and four armored vehicle mechanic tool sets.  The U.S. will also provide maintenance support for the equipment.   

“This equipment delivery will continue efforts to grow and operationalize the G5 Sahel Joint Force as it takes great strides towards removing the scourge of violent extremism from this region,” said U.S. Ambassador to Niger, Eric Whitaker.   

The G5 Sahel Joint Force member countries are Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. The Joint Force’s missions include combating counterterrorism, transnational organized crime, and trafficking in the Sahel, a region that has seen an increase in violence since 2017. 

The U.S. and Niger have developed a long-standing partnership that includes military training exercises as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance support for counterterrorism activities.   

“As demonstrated by our continuous support, the United States considers Niger an extremely important strategic partner, and one that is critical to the multi-national effort to defeat some of the world’s most ruthless terrorist groups,” said Whitaker.

China And Niger From China MOD 2013

Economic cooperation and trade continued to deepen. In March, construction began on the China-assisted project of reinforcing the water production capacity in Zinder. In October, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the project of the Referral Hospital of Niamey, the biggest hospital in Africa built with Chinese assistance. In November, license was granted for the second phase of the Agadem Oil Integrated Project. 

Cooperation in other fields advanced steadily. In September, the Red Cross Society of China provided emergency relief in cash for Niger in response to the heavy flooding. In the same month, a working group of the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television visited Niger and signed cooperation agreements with Niger State Television and Niger 24.