Niger receives two French attack helicopters

France has given Niger two attack helicopters to boost its fight against extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the so-called Islamic State group.

The authorities unveiled the aircraft at a ceremony in the capital, Niamey, on Wednesday.

Niger’s Defence Minister Alkasoum Indatou said the delivery of the equipment was part of military co-operation between the two countries.

Officials say the helicopters have reconnaissance, surveillance and attack capabilities. They could also be used for the evacuation of military casualties.

Niger – a former French colony – had received three similar helicopters back in 2013 from France.

The five military helicopters as well as the training of pilots cost about €24m ($24.8m; £21m), according to the authorities.

The delivery of the aircraft comes barely a week after French President Emmanuel Macron announced the end of a decade-long French counter-terrorism mission in the Sahel region known as Operation Barkhane – for which France had deployed more than 5,000 troops.

Mr Macron had said France was still ready to offer military training and assistance to individual countries in the region based on bilateral agreements.