Turkish-backed mercenaries in Niger: A new power struggle in the Sahel

Like many other conflict zones around the world, the Sahel has become a battleground for the great powers.

After the departure of the French and the Americans, the Turkish are reportedly imposing themselves in Niger for their own interests.

Through its mercenaries operating in Syria, it is pushing its pawns into Africa, notably Niger, and seeking to establish its influence on the continent.

But this involvement has taken on another dimension in Niger, with the presence of thousands of mercenaries recruited from a rebel group active in Syria, including the “Sultan Murad Division”.

This is not the first time the country has resorted to this modus operandi – in 2019, through the private military company SADAT, it had stipended Syrian fighters aligned with its interests to reinforce the troops of the Libyan government of national unity, with which it had just signed military agreements.

Some of the mercenaries coming from Syria could be affiliated to extremist or terrorist groups, which could pose a risk to Niger’s security and stability. Their presence could also exacerbate existing ethnic or religious tensions in the country.

Many fighters are leaving Syria for Niger in search of economic benefits and better working conditions. More than 200 mercenaries left northern Syria in mid-August for Turkey, where they were voluntarily recruited to serve Ankara in Niger with the Sultan Murad group, the main pro-Turkish elite unit in Syria.

According to Yahoo news, the monthly salary of mercenaries operating in Syria does not exceed 50 dollars, while those present in Niger receive no less than 1000 dollars, making Niamey the Eldorado for young fighters.

According to the French edition of Le Figaro, SADAT officers and elements from Syria have signed a contract to serve in Niger. These SADAT officials are taking care of everything, from protection measures to travel arrangements.

SADAT is considered a secret weapon for its external operations in North Africa and the Middle East, but the Turkish authorities denied this in 2021.

In 2020, a US Department of Defence report claimed that SADAT had sent teams to Libya to train Syrian fighters in support of the Tripoli government.

The Syrian Centre for Justice and Accountability claims that SADAT was also “responsible for the international air transport of mercenaries” to Libya and Azerbaijan, at war with Armenia.

For stability in Niger, the authorities in Niamey need to find real partners who have no direct or indirect links with terrorist groups operating in conflict zones, as security is essential for development. The country needs to request support to strengthen its military equipment and train its personnel.

The impact of the mercenaries from Syria in Niger could be significant and potentially dangerous, given their experience of previous conflicts, their ideological affiliations and the risk they pose to the civilian population.

It is essential that the Nigerien authorities take cognizance of the situation and consider appropriate measures to mitigate these risks.