African president warns of ‘opportunity’ for Russia as political unrest continues

Niger’s president, in an op-ed revealed Thursday, raised issues that the political unrest in his country will current Russia with a chance to realize a foothold and advance its pursuits on the African continent. 

“With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, your entire central Sahel area might fall to Russian affect through the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full show in Ukraine,” Niger President Mohamed Bazoum wrote in The Washington Put up. 

“Boko Haram and different terrorist actions will certainly make the most of Niger’s instability, utilizing our nation as a staging floor to assault neighboring nations and undermine peace, security and freedom all over the world,” he continued. 

“They are going to ramp up their efforts to focus on our youths with hateful anti-Western indoctrination, turning them in opposition to the very companions who’re serving to us construct a extra hopeful future.”

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Bazoum stays detained inside his palace in Niamey within the possession of presidential guards after they claimed to take management of the nation.

Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for Niger’s safety forces, mentioned in a televised assertion final week that the nation’s structure was suspended and that Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani was in cost, The Related Press reported.

Niger Military spokesman Colonel Main Amadou Adramane speaks throughout an look on nationwide tv, after President Mohamed Bazoum was held within the presidential palace, in Niamey, Niger, July 26, 2023, on this nonetheless picture taken from video.  ( ORTN/through Reuters TV/Handout through Reuters)

Footage of celebrations following the announcement confirmed numerous folks waving Russian flags and indicators saying, “Russie Vivie,” or “Stay Russia.” 

Niger has additionally already attracted curiosity from Russia’s notorious mercenary Wagner Group, which has focused the nation attributable to its wealthy uranium manufacturing. 

Supporters of the coup set fireplace to the ruling get together HQ whereas lots of of them collect in entrance of the Nationwide Meeting within the capital Niamey, Niger July 27, 2023.  (Reuters/Balima Boureima)

Wagner’s founder and at the moment exiled chief Yevgeny Prigozhin celebrated Niger’s coup, arguing that “What occurred in Niger has been brewing for years.”

“The previous colonizers are attempting to maintain the folks of African nations in verify,” Prigozhin mentioned. “With the intention to hold them in verify, the previous colonizers are filling these nations with terrorists and varied bandit formations, thus making a colossal safety disaster.”

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“The inhabitants suffers. And that is the (the rationale for) love for PMC (non-public army firm) Wagner, that is the excessive effectivity of PMC Wagner,” Prigozhin added.

Wagner already has communicated with neighboring Mali, which requested for assist after ousting the French army, with a lot of them transferring into Niger. Reviews point out that Wagner might quickly arrive in Burkina Faso, too.

Folks stand subsequent to Russian and Niger flags whereas lots of of supporters of the coup collect in entrance of the Nationwide Meeting within the capital Niamey, Niger, July 27, 2023.  (Reuters/Balima Boureima)

Bazoum urged the U.S. “and your entire worldwide group to assist us restore our constitutional order,” however the U.S. shortly afterward introduced plans to evacuate some Americans out of Niger.

The Pentagon confused that the nation’s “pressure posture” in Niger has not modified and that the army stays dedicated though some Individuals will depart the nation for security causes. 

Abdourahmane Tchiani and different military commanders held a gathering within the capital, Niamey, Niger on July 28, 2023. Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the top of Niger’s presidential guard, appeared on nationwide tv on Friday and declared himself the brand new chief of the nation after a coup.  ((Photograph by Balima Boureima/Anadolu Company through Getty Pictures))

“The division continues to function there,” Pentagon Deputy Spokesperson Sabrina Singh mentioned throughout an look on “America’s Newsroom” Friday morning. “Niger’s an extremely essential regional accomplice … when it comes to counterterrorism, and so we hope that issues might be resolved diplomatically.”

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Singh famous, “Once more, I hope it is a present of confidence that the division proper now shouldn’t be altering its pressure posture,” she added. “And, sure, we’re having an order departure of some Americans, however the embassy is continuous to run, and our service members are persevering with to work aspect by aspect their Nigerian counterparts.”

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken introduced on Wednesday that he ordered a short lived departure of non-emergency personnel and eligible relations from Niger attributable to “ongoing developments” and “out of an abundance of warning.” 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) meets with Niger President Mohamed Bazoum (R) in Niamey, Niger on March 16, 2023.  ((Photograph by Presidency of Niger / Handout/Anadolu Company through Getty Pictures))

“The U.S. is dedicated to our relationship with the folks of Niger. The embassy stays open, and our leaders are diplomatically engaged on the highest ranges,” he wrote on social media platform X. 

The senior pastor of Cornerstone Christian Middle in Antioch, California, mentioned the U.S. State Division had organized a flight house for him and practically a dozen different volunteers who had gone on a nine-day journey to Niger for a Trip Bible Faculty mission, he advised Fox Information. 

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“Industrial flight choices are restricted. We up to date our journey advisory to replicate this and knowledgeable U.S. residents that we’re solely in a position to present emergency help to U.S. residents in Niger given our lowered personnel,” a put up from the State Division mentioned.

Fox Information Digital’s Julia Musto contributed to this report.