Prigozhin’s presence in Africa setting a platform for proxy war experiment in Niger
By Daily Tab24. Updated: 5:19 pm. Aug 22, 2023.
Prigozhin has landed in Africa, after last sighting in Russia, his mission is unclear, but following his promise of focusing on Africa, the Wargner boss has touched down. In a video posted online, which the location was not independently confirmed by Daily Tab24, the Russian private army leader said he is in Africa.
He further said that Africa would be free, praising his efforts in the fight against international terrorist organizations. He did promise to come to Africa and his presence sets the platform for potential power struggle and Niger must not be allowed to be used as experiment.
ECOWAS has chosen pride over common sense when they defiantly activated standby forces of the bloc, a move that triggered donation of fighter jet by Mali and Burkina Faso to Niger, in view to counter ECOWAS. Niger has been bolstered by the support of Mali and Burkina Faso. With Algeria standing against any military intervention, military intervention in Niger is becoming complicated by each dawn.
Algeria is of the belief that a military intervention in Niger would led to total destabilization of the Sahara-Sahel regions. Algeria will be a key player in any military intervention, because it’s the neighbor of Niger. Despite Algeria’s opposition to military intervention, ECOWAS continue to push and amass soldiers.
The bloc had said through their military chiefs that they are ready to carryout military operation in Niger if ordered and that preparation of the eleven countries had long gone far. ECOWAS chairman, the newly elected President of Niger, Bola Tinubu is so obsessed with military operation in Niger. He has not shown any sign of stopping even when the Senate of his country opposed or forbade him to carry out a military operation.
France, the colonial master of the uranium rich country has shown clear dissatisfaction with the coup in Niger, and the people of Niger have violently attacked French embassy, asking them to leave their country with their military stationed in Niamey. Protests against French establishments seemed to be rising with sentiments.
The government of Basoum is pro-French and to protect French interest in Niger, US has significantly played a role in the effort to restore constitutional order. US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken had had words with Basoum who disclosed his state of health in detention. According to Anthony Blinken, Basoum is sick and not well taken care of, including the junta’s negligence of his medical care.
Before the July coup, Prigozhin had said the Russian private military company working in hand with Putin would turn focus to Africa. The announcement came after his half-baked coup against Putin, which many thought would destabilize Russia.
On the other hand, US had said they carried out investigation and confirmed Russia has no hand in the coup. Coup is not new in Africa, as more than five coups have been recorded between 2020 and 2023.
Reacting to the Niger coup which took international turn, Russia warned against military intervention in Niger, stating it would destabilize Africa and would not end as expected. The official statement from the Russian foreign ministry did not disclose if Russia would give strategic help or military help to the Niger junta.
Negotiation remains the key and only option to avoid setting Africa on fire.
