Russia’s attention to Niger spells potential doom in advent of military intervention
By Daily Tab24. Updated: 3:15 pm. Aug 15, 2023.
Military intervention in Niger Republic is potentially proving impossible. It is no longer as realistic as it was two weeks ago. The chances are significantly dwindling due to conflicting interests in the country. ECOWAS, France, US, Germany and now Russia, list of foreign involvement keeps growing. There is possibility of chaos, instead of intervention, should a military intervention be triggered by ECOWAS.
Russia has been onlookers until now. Initially, the country said they were monitoring and studying situation in Niger. But Wagner Group, a private military company led by a friend of Putin, who later staged a half-baked coup against the Russian leader, had previously indicated interest in Niger, weeks after publicly announcing that the Russian private army would switch focus on Africa.
The military takeover on 26th of July rattled everybody, including US who have no direct economic interest in Niger. Although, it is widely believed that European relationship with US means anything going to Europe automatically gets to US. United States have taken side with the constitution of Niger – a tough side to take, owing to the obstinate disposition of the Niger’s junta.
Speaking on the development in Niger; US said they would not press the red button yet, and that investigations have shown Russia has no direct link to the coup leaders, even though citizens of the country had shouted Russia, waved Russian flag and called for bilateral relationship with Russia.
Uranium is the curse of the poor sahel country, but that curse is the blessing of super-power countries that need it for nuclear warheads. France is the direct beneficiary of the Uranium and they are strategizing to retain their interests in Niger. France’s interests are protected by US and other African countries, they intend to use their allies to restore the pro-western deposed government.
ECOWAS quickly declared a military intervention to reinstate the deposed elected President, but the declaration of the regional bloc was received with rage, and opposition countries have sworn to make life unbearable for ECOWAS troops should they invade Niger. At crossed road; ECOWAS decided to pause, but Russia has a warning.
“We believe that a military solution to the crisis in Niger could lead to a protracted confrontation in that African country” Russian foreign ministry said, according to global news agency, AFP. “and to a sharp destabilization of the situation on the Sahara-Sahel region as a whole” the ministry added.
The warning from Russia is a subtle declaration of their interest or position in Niger. Russia has been at loggerhead with US and often chose chaos over normalization. The warning is to deter any military intervention they believe is being drafted by US through proxies in Africa.
Wars in Ukraine and Syria are the perfect example of what is obtainable in Niger. Russia will not give up Niger, but would rather take the side of the junta and ensure that US interest is denied. ECOWAS cannot risk what is happening in Ukraine in Africa, because with Russia’s subtly declared interest in Niger, it is clear ECOWAS intervention would turn into a protracted war of foreign interests and Africa would burn mercilessly.
