A Russian military aircraft, suspected of being linked to mercenary operations, landed at Agadez Airport on Tuesday morning, raising concerns over its mission in the region.
According to aviation tracking sources, the aircraft, identified as a Tupolev TU-154M with registration RA-85042, belongs to the Russian Air Force. It reportedly departed from an undisclosed location in Libya, where it had been stationed for several days before arriving in Niger.
The nature of the flight and its occupants remain unclear, but the aircraft type has previously been associated with the transportation of Russian military personnel and mercenaries.
The development comes amid growing geopolitical interests in the Sahel, where various international actors, including Russian-linked forces, have been expanding their presence. Nigerien authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the aircraft’s landing.
