Niger. Military junta broke up intelligence with Russia

Niger military authorities unexpectedly completed intelligence cooperation with Russia, accusing its provision of defective spy equipment. Deprived of modern tools of the Security Service, they returned to old methods – agents dressed in civilian patrol streets and listen to conversations of passers -by. The security crisis in the country is deepened by jihadist attacks and the dramatic humanitarian situation.

The National Council for the Protection of the Fatherland (CNSP), i.e. the Government of the Niger Military Junta, suddenly ended the intelligence cooperation with its key ally, Russiacomplaining about the poor quality and performance of the supplied spy equipment and Russian technicians serving it.

According to local media, Niger's interview was primarily dissatisfied with the equipment to the telephone eavesdropping, both Russian and Turkish. Therefore, Junta also terminated the agreement on intelligence cooperation with Turkey.

In view of the ineffectiveness of previous partners, Junta tried to fill the resulting gap thanks to cooperation with the Moroccan company dealing with digital intelligence. However, this plan also broke down when it came to light that the Moroccan solution has indirect connections with the French private service provider. After breaking the bond with France, the Niger authorities considered it unacceptable and immediately broke off cooperation with Moroccus.

Return to old methods

Deprived of eavesdropping and organs to the surveillance of the Niger Security Service, they returned to the techniques used in the pre -industrial era in May. The Presidential Guard sent agents to the streets of civilian clothes, who from midnight to 6 am patrols the sensitive parts of Niamey, the capital of the country, eavesdropping on conversations of randomly encountered people.

Although Niger distanced himself from exchanging intelligence with Russia, he did not break all the ties with her. Recently, this country joined the contract that his neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso They signed Roskosmos with the Russian Air and Cosmic Agency regarding the purchase of satellite services to control the border between these countries.

Security crisis

This region has been harassed by Islamists for years, using vast semi -desert and easy to penetrate borders. Three countries ruled by military junty have been fighting this terrorist threat for years.

In the last attack by jihadists on Sunday in Dosso, the border western region of Niger, at least 10 soldiers were killed and seven were injured.

Niger is also struggling with economic problems. Over 45 percent of the country's population lives in extreme poverty, and the World Bank estimates that by the end of 2025 about 4.8 million of its inhabitants will need humanitarian help.