Russian troops enter airbase in Niger where US soldiers are stationed

Proximity of the two countries’ forces follows request by junta ruling west African nation for the US to pull its troops out

Russian military personnel have entered an airbase in Niger that is hosting American troops, after a decision by Niger’s junta to expel US forces from the country.

The military officers ruling the west African nation have told the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington’s fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.