Niger’s presidential guard military forces arrested and overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum last Saturday, marking the African nation’s fifth military coup since gaining independence from France in 1960. The head of the guard president, General Abdourahmane, quickly declared himself the new leader of Niger’s government:
While these matters are of course interesting in their own right, recent developments in Niger reverberate far beyond the shifting sands of coup-torn African politics and threaten to implicate both France and Russia, and even and the entire United States in an increasingly volatile African dust. barrel
Deposed President Bazoum was an important Western ally in facilitating Niger’s cooperation with the West to combat terrorist groups in Africa. Having a cooperative ally (some would say “puppet”) in Niger was especially important for Western powers after a similar military coup in neighboring Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso’s anti-French and Russian-aligned interim leader Ibrahim Traoré ousted Paul Henri Damiba to become the world’s youngest sitting president at 34.
The role of the United States in funding African rebel groups that eventually stage coups, some of which run counter to U.S. interests, is notorious. This was the very subject of a memorable and even humiliating exchange between America First Congressman Matt Gaetz and US General Langley.
BREAKING: Head of US military’s Africa Command says our government shares ‘core values’ with coup military leaders.
These SAME coup plotters were trained by our own Armed Forces! pic.twitter.com/boGYfQ6csb
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 23, 2023
A powerful undercurrent of the military coup in Niger is anti-French sentiment, arising from the feeling that Niger had been exploited by its former colonial master France. Supporters of the coup have protested at the French embassy and attacked French interests in Niger.
A particularly prominent complaint concerns France’s use of Niger’s rich resources, especially gold and uranium, while Niger remains one of the poorest nations in the world. French President Emmanuel Macron, fresh from the riots and uprising in Paris, largely perpetrated by immigrants from France’s former colonies, has warned Niger against any attack on France’s interests.
🇳🇪 “We have uranium, we have diamonds, we have gold, we have oil and we live like slaves?
We will not accept it. The French base in Niger must go.” pic.twitter.com/gpbJfiROoL— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) August 2, 2023
Just today there was a massive demonstration in favor of the coup d’état in Niger. Note the Russian flags:
WATCH: Massive pro-coup demonstration in Nigerpic.twitter.com/WieCuWKfoK
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) August 3, 2023
Niger is one of the world’s leading exporters of uranium and the third-largest exporter of uranium to France, which requires the mineral for its nuclear power program that supplies more than 70 percent of the country’s energy. Given the critical importance of uranium to France and the rest of the world, it is a clear point of leverage for Niger. Reports across the internet that Niger has suspended its uranium exports to France appear to be false, although this is an ever-persistent possibility that indicates the interests of the conflict.
A Western-backed consortium of African nations known as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has taken the extraordinary step of imposing sanctions on Niger and threatening invasion and military force if Niger’s governing junta does not restore deposed leader Bazoum.
The leaders of the military junta in Mali and the aforementioned Burkina Faso responded that they are ready to go to war with any power that takes military action in Niger to reinstate the deposed leader.
The African nation of Guinea recently joined Burkina Faso, Mali and other nations in pledging military support to Niger should Niger be invaded by foreign forces attempting to reverse the coup.
🇬🇳 Guinea has declared its support for Niger pic.twitter.com/B5cme67Heh
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) August 3, 2023
While Western media reports that the Niger coup was backed by Russia are unsubstantiated, there is an undercurrent of support for Russia among coup supporters, fueled by the perception that Russia is a viable alternative to Western powers. who have allegedly exploited Niger for its resources.
As for the demands of Western nations and the Western-backed ECOWAS for Niger to restore Bazoum to power, Niger’s Junta government remains defiant. Bazoum is believed to be under house arrest and many of his top political allies have already been arrested.
‼️ 🚨 BREAKING – Situation in Niger remains extremely tense after coup by Russian-backed junta
⚠️ Rioters chased politicians and burned their cars. The board has announced the immediate suspension of uranium and gold exports to France.
⚡Several members of the former… pic.twitter.com/YDfT2gn2qi
— {Matt} $XRPtriot (@matttttt187) August 1, 2023
Given the volatile situation and the potential for major regional and even global conflict, it is perhaps not surprising that Westerners, particularly the French, are frantically evacuating Niger.
🇫🇷🇳🇪 A French plane carrying 262 evacuees from Niger landed in Paris
The first plane carrying French and other European citizens evacuated from Niger landed in Paris on Wednesday.
The flight, chartered by France, left Niger on Tuesday evening to evacuate… pic.twitter.com/qQI5WVVlo8
— DD Geopolitics (@DD_Geopolitics) August 2, 2023
The United States must evacuate its embassy in Niger
But of course, Biden has decided that the US military will stay, despite the protests of the new Niger government.
The Pentagon declared that it will maintain its contingent in Niger (about 1000 soldiers) regardless of the demands of the “military junta” to end military cooperation with that country.
This means another illegal occupation like the one in Syria.
Now it’s the USA’s turn… pic.twitter.com/Fy5oKznvvs
— Megatron (@Megatron_ron) August 2, 2023
We’re sure this will all work out. Watch this space for further developments on this disturbing conflict.
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