by Brian Shilhavy, Health Impact News:
Niger became the latest African nation to topple its “democratically elected” U.S.-backed government this week, as civil unrest spreads from coast to coast across the continent.
Coast to Coast, a Corridor of Coups Brings Turmoil in Africa
Africa’s coup belt spans the continent: a line of six countries crossing 3,500 miles, from coast to coast, that has become the longest corridor of military rule on Earth.
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This past week’s military takeover in the West African nation of Niger toppled the final domino in a band across the girth of Africa, from Guinea in the west to Sudan in the east, now controlled by juntas that came to power in a coup — all but one in the past two years.
The last leader to fall was Niger’s Mohamed Bazoum, a democratically elected American ally who disappeared on Wednesday when his own guards detained him at the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey. His security chief now claims to be running the country.
“We have decided to intervene,” Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, Niger’s new self-appointed ruler, said in a televised address on Friday.
Until this past week, Niger was the cornerstone of the Pentagon’s regional strategy. At least 1,100 American troops are stationed in the country, where the U.S. military built drone bases in Niamey and the northern city of Agadez, one at a cost of $110 million. Now, all of that is in jeopardy. (Full article.)
Bazoum is reportedly being held by his own presidential guard, and the coup leaders claim that the nation’s army, gendarmerie, and police forces were all united in taking control of the government in Niger. (Source.)
Local reporters are claiming that the coup is also supported by the people of Niger.
Citizens in Niger have expressed hope in the future three days after the military takeover that led to the detention of former president Mohamed Bazoum.
“We think that the arrival of the military at the head of the country will give us a little more hope by thinking that their arrival will cause the situation of insecurity to change and that our laborious populations will be able to go about their rural work and that schools that are closed will resume”, said Mamane Bagoudou.
Another citizen, Aboubacar Yayé, added “there is an evil that is there that we have lived and that we have felt in our flesh, it is practically how long ago insecurity is gaining ground. Insecurity is only gaining ground in our territory, in my view, and it is perfectly normal for a change to occur”. (Source.)
While Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov criticized the coup last week as an “anti-constitutional act,” a new “African Union” comprising over 40 African nations met with Russian President Putin last week in a “Russia-Africa Summit” to strengthen economic ties.
The share of African nations in Russia’s foreign trade reportedly rose by 30% in the first half of this year compared to the same period in 2022.
Five countries account for 60% of trade turnover between Russia and Africa, namely Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and South Africa. Russia sells grain, energy resources, metals, and trucks to the continent, and buys agricultural produce. (Source.)
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