BBC Arabic reported 21 minutes ago that Abu Mohammad is planning to leave his family in Syria to work as a mercenary in Niger. Abu Mohammad has been living in a tent in northern Syria with his family for over 10 years due to the civil war. He struggles to support his family with his current income of less than $50 a month from the opposition forces he fights for. Seeing an opportunity to earn more money, he has decided to travel to Niger to work as a mercenary for $1,500 a month.
Abu Mohammad is not alone in this decision, as many other Syrian fighters have also traveled to Niger for better pay. However, the reality of their work in Niger may differ from what they were initially told. Despite the risks involved, such as fighting under Russian command, the economic reasons for going to Niger outweigh the concerns for many of these fighters.
The process of recruitment and deployment of Syrian mercenaries to Niger is shrouded in secrecy, with Turkish companies allegedly involved in the process. The claims have been denied by the companies involved, but reports suggest that private companies are indeed being used to recruit and send Syrian fighters abroad.
Conditions in Niger are difficult for these fighters, with limited communication with their families back in Syria and the risk of being killed in action. Despite the dangers, the economic necessity for these fighters drives them to take on these risky jobs.