Leader of the Russian mercenary army Wagner Yevgeny Prigozhin welcomed last week’s coup in Niger.
He said his troops were ready to “restore order to the country”. For money, of course. In addition to Ukraine and Syria, Wagner’s forces have also been in Africa.
President of Niger by Mohamed Bazoum the general who was the head of the bodyguard Abdourahamane Tchiani announced himself as the country’s new leader in a televised speech on Friday.
The United States and the European Union have condemned the coup. For the United States in particular, Niger has been one of the few African countries stable enough to fight Islamist extremist organizations with.
Because of the coup, the Western powers and especially the United States are known to have more worries, this time in the direction of Africa. They can be reflected at least indirectly around the world, including in Finland.
A security analyst who previously worked for the US State Department Anneliese Bernard listed seven reasons why the coup is making the US and Europe nervous.
1. Power struggle
The great powers are also fighting for power in Africa, and in this case especially over how much the Russians gain a foothold on the continent.
– The United States cannot be there if Russia is there. In my opinion, this is a big problem for the United States, says security analyst Bernard.
In many interviews, Nigerians themselves say that they want to finally get rid of their colonialist ties to France and, with it, to the entire Western world.
2. Russia’s share
In Niger, Russian flags have been seen at demonstrations already last fall, which has raised the question of whether Russia is behind the coup and the anti-Westernism in Niger.
– There is no proof of this, but anti-Westernism is particularly strong in the capital, Niamey, Bernard commented on Russia’s role.
3. Operation of Western countries in Africa
The coup is a big problem for the United States and its allies also because the United States has invested in Niger for a long time. According to the US Secretary of State, the financial support alone has been hundreds of millions of dollars. The word ally has even been used for Niger.
With the coup, the US investment went down the drain in one fell swoop, because the EU and the US do not accept the military junta that seized power as the country’s leader. The junta repealed the constitution and acted against democracy in other ways.
– The United States has, among other things, built an airbase in Agadez. Its goal was to serve the needs of the United States and its allies in Africa. The United States put more money into it, I think, than anywhere else in the world. Now it is owned by Nigerians. This makes it significantly more difficult for Western powers to operate on the continent, security expert Bernard estimates.
America’s troubles in the region do not end here either.
4. Wagner position
Wagner’s mercenary army, which ran amok in Africa, Syria and Ukraine, may become stronger in Niger if it receives a mandate from, for example, the leadership that carried out the coup d’état in Niger – or from other countries in the region. Wagner’s forces have supported the Malian armed forces, among other things.
– Wagner and the Malian army have talked about cleaning operations, which ostensibly means anti-terrorist activities. There are numerous examples where the armed forces, together with Wagner, have actually committed human rights violations.
5. Jihadists
According to Bernard, the cooperation between the Malian army and Wagner has led to the fact that jihadist organizations have taken advantage of the opportunity by getting local communities on their side instead of turning to the authorities and local administration.
6. Uranium and oil
Niger is the seventh largest producer of uranium in the world. Niger’s uranium ending up in the nuclear weapons of unfriendly states is also one of the major concerns.
The country also has large oil reserves. According to Bernard, Niger has become the largest oil exporter in the region.
– Almost half of the largest national oil company, NNPC, is owned by a Chinese oil company.
The Chinese will therefore also benefit from the situation if other countries leave its apajas.
7. One more war?
The West African Economic Community, Ecowas, has imposed sanctions on Niger. Ecowas has also announced that, if necessary, it will return the ousted president to power by force. Ecowas has given the military junta a week to return power to the president.
The military junta has arrested several ministers of the ousted regime.
Despite the warning given by the economic community, Niger’s neighboring countries Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea have announced their support for the military junta. Armed if necessary.
Western countries have started evacuating their citizens from Niger.
Although characterized as a stable US ally in Africa, Niger has experienced four coups since independence in 1960.
Sources: AFP, Reuters