According to various intelligence sources, Turkey has sent thousands of Islamic Militants to Niger in a bid to control its economic and military interests in the West African nation.
Human rights groups and global security experts confirm that the Syrian Mercenaries who were sent by Turkey to Niger have also been used in the past.
The Mercenaries who are considered Islamic militia were sent in the past to target Christian Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh during the conflict with Azerbaijan.
As well as used to target Christian Syrians during the Syrian civil war, as well as causing upheaval in Egypt during the “Arab Spring Rising” according to global intelligence sources.
Mercenaries Recruitment
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, has researchers throughout Syria, reports that recruitment of Syrian fighters for deployment to Niger has been observed for the last six months.
“We have confirmed that about 1,100 Syrian fighters have already been deployed to Niger since September of last year,” said Rami Abdulrahman, director of the Syrian Observatory.
Syrian nationals are being recruited from areas under the control of Turkey and Turkish-backed Syrian armed groups in northwest Syria, Abdulrahman confirmed.
Syrians for Truth and Justice (STJ), a France-based advocacy group, said it has also documented such recruitments and also their conduct in the places they operate.
TURKEY COMPLICIT BY HELPING HAMAS TERRORISTS
Ankara Exporting Force
According to Bassam Alahmad, the executive director of STJ, the Syrian fighters are being transported from Syria into Turkey. and
Then using Turkish airports, they are sent directly into conflict zones such as to Niger by Turkish military airplanes.
“It’s very clear that in Niger, Turkey is just extending a policy that views Africa as clear area of growth for Turkey in terms of commercial and military interests, and in terms of extending Turkey’s power in the world”
– Nicholas Heras, Middle East expert at the New Lines Institute, a Washington thinktank.
The Nigerien Crisis
In July 2023, there was a military coup d’état in Niamey, which saw the country’s presidential guard remove and detain President Mohamed Bazoum.
Subsequently, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the Commander of the Presidential Guard, proclaimed himself the leader of the country.
Establishing the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, after confirming the success of the coup.
However, Niger’s efforts at the diversification of its defence ties even predates this event.
Turkish Military Support
In late 2021 the former democratic government of Niger signed a contract for Turkish Bayraktar TB2 drones. They were delivered in June 2022.
Turkey also sold Niger some armoured vehicles and Hurkus-3 trainer aircraft suitable for ground attack and armed reconnaissance missions.
After the 2023 military coup, the new junta expressed gratitude to Russia, Turkey, and the UAE for welcoming them with open arms.
This is direct contrast with the unwillingness of the French and Americans, who saw the military coup as a further attempt to destabilize the region.
RUNAWAY INFLATION FORCES TURKEY INTO DRASTIC INTEREST RATE MEASURES
Turkey Using Syrian Nationals
Abdulrahman of the Syrian Observatory also said that SADAT Inc. International Defense Consultancy was behind the recruitment of Syrian nationals from areas under the control of Turkey.
A Syrian fighter, who went by the name Ahmed, told media sources that a Turkish-backed Syrian militia called the Sultan Murad Division was involved in recruiting him for the Niger deployment.
The Syrian fighter, who was in Aleppo province, said new recruits will be trained at camps before participating in battles in Niger.
“The first two batches of fighters have already gone, and a third batch will follow soon,” he said.
NEW ERA FOR TURKEY WITH STUNNING AK PARTY DEFEAT
Another Syrian fighter told AFP that he was recruited for duty in Niger “on a six-month contract with a salary of $1,500.”
A third Syrian fighter said that after two weeks of military training, he was tasked with guarding a site near a mine in Niger, according to sources.
Syrian fighters have cited economic incentives as the main motive for accepting such job offers.
The Syrian Observatory said the Turkey-backed Syrian mercenaries have been stationed in the tri-border area between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
“For those getting wounded in battle, they receive up to $30,000 in compensation, for those getting killed, their families receive up to $60,000.” Abdulrahman confirmed.
ECOWAS Response
In response to Coup and increased violence and volatility in the region, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) issued an ultimatum, giving the coup leaders in Niger one week to reinstate President Bazoum.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ultimatum came with the threat of international sanctions and potential use of force.
When the deadline of the ultimatum expired, no military intervention was initiated.
However, ECOWAS took the step of activating its standby forces in the region ready to deploy in Niger when called upon .
Previously, ECOWAS had launched a military intervention in 2017 to restore democracy in Gambia during a constitutional crisis within the country.
All active member states of ECOWAS, except for Cape Verde, pledged to engage their armed forces in the event of an ECOWAS-led military intervention against the Nigerien junta.
Conversely, the military juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali announced they would support the Nigerien junta were such a military intervention to be launched forming a mutual defence pact.
In February 2024, ECOWAS announced that it was lifting sanctions on Niger, purportedly for humanitarian purposes as many in Niger were affected by the policy.
UN and US Positions
The United Nations says the tri-border region in recent years has become a major hotspot for insecurity, including terror activities carried out by militant groups.
This comes at a time when Nigerien and U.S. defense officials are discussing plans to withdraw all American forces from the country.
Niger’s military junta, which overthrew the country’s democratically elected president in July of last year, has demanded an end to U.S. military presence in the country.
