United States African Command Donates $8 Million equipment to Niger’s Military
The United States Africa Command has donated military equipment worth more than eight million dollars to Niger Republic.
According to information published by the U.S. Africa Command on August 14, 2020, the equipment are expected to aid the West African nation and its G5 Sahel Joint Force partners in the fight against terrorism.
“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,” Get emphasised.
The military equipment donated by the U.S. include 15 Osprey MK7 MAMBA 4×4 wheeled armoured personnel carriers, four Osprea MK7 MAMBA armoured command vehicles, three Osprea MK7 MAMBA armoured ambulances, two Toyota land cruiser ambulances, and four armoured vehicle mechanic toolsets. The U.S. will also provide maintenance support for the equipment.
In May, the U.S. donated 10 trucks to the Nigerien Armed Forces, In addition to the Mamba and Atego vehicles, in 2019 the U.S. supplied a 16.5 million dollars command and control centre to the country.
Between 2013 and 2015 the U.S. delivered four Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft configured for surveillance and medical evacuation to Niger.
The two countries have become strong counter terrorism partners over time with U.S. MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles conducting intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance flights from Niger’s Air Base 101 in Niamey and Base 201 outside Agadez.
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