OPINION — In late July 2023, the democratically elected President of the West African nation of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown by members of the country’s armed forces and placed under house arrest. Almost immediately after seizing power, the junta now “in charge” of the small African country, threatened to expel the French military and warned that if the U.S. or its allies try to intervene in Niger’s internal affairs, they will execute him.
In an attempt to reverse the course taken by the military junta and secure the release of Bazoum, U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was sent to Niger to meet with the junta’s leadership and convince them to release Bazoum. Nuland’s mission, however, was unsuccessful and she was not only unable to convince the junta to reverse course, but she also denied meetings with the self-proclaimed leader of Niger, General Abdourahmane or President Bazoum.
For the U.S., which has over 1000 U.S. military personnel deployed to the country, and has invested in trying to promote democracy in Niger, Nuland’s inability to secure significant concessions from Abdourahmane and his accomplices is a sign of Washington’s loss of influence both in the country, and potentially the region.
While U.S. efforts to counter Islamic extremist activities in Africa are important, in today’s geopolitical context, it may be more important to focus on what Russia has been doing there.
As part of its efforts to undermine the U.S. and its allies and expand its own influence, the Russian Federation has been conducting an active anti-Western, active measures campaign in West Africa - including in Niger - and soon after the coup, Moscow appeared to be taking advantage of developments to further expand its influence in the country.
Kremlin pawn Yevgeny Prigozhin was also quick to announce Russia’s willingness to send “Wagner” mercenaries to the West African nation to assist Abdourahmane and his accomplices.
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The coup in Niamey took place just as Russian President Vladimir Putin was wrapping up a summit for African leaders in St Petersburg and as the Ukraine war continues, he needs to show the world that he has international allies. Thus, as supporters of the coup took to the streets of Niger waiving Russian flags, the situation looked to be a much-needed victory for Putin.
At a time when many in the U.S. have finally accepted the reality that we are now engaged in a new Cold War with Moscow, losing a battle to Putin and Prigozhin in West Africa is a significant development that should be getting more attention in the U.S.
Just as the U.S. cannot allow Russia to win in Ukraine, we also cannot afford to give Moscow wins in Africa, South America, or other parts of the world. Battles in places like Niger need to be viewed as part of a larger competition being waged worldwide.
A foreign policy failure in Niger sends a negative message to current and potential U.S. allies and only serves to embolden Putin.
Americans should be asking some important questions: How did the U.S. manage to lose influence in an important West African nation, how can Washington protect whatever remaining influence it has there and how does the U.S. stop the spread of Russian and Chinese influence in Africa in general, and Niger in particular?
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