Aviva Fried with AFP (in the United States), edited by Laura Laplaud / Photo credit:
Two weeks after the coup in Niger that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, diplomacy remains the best way forward. The United States, which is fighting against the jihadist groups that are undermining this country and a large part of the Sahel region, has attempted dialogue, in vain.
The military regime resulting from a coup in Niger is sticking to its guns on the eve of the summit of West African countries to be held Thursday in Abuja, capital of Nigeria led by Bola Tinubu, president in office of ECOWAS.
Niamey seems insensitive to offers of negotiations from West Africa and the United States to avoid military intervention to restore constitutional order, which remains an option. The Nigerian president, however, believes that diplomacy is the “best way” to resolve the crisis, even if he did not rule out military intervention in Niger, his spokesman Ajuri Ngelale said on Tuesday.
A nightmare scenario for the United States
The United States wishes to maintain its relationship with Niger, a fundamental support in its African policy. In recent years, the Americans have invested billions of dollars in the country in aid programs, including military. Until now, Niger has been shown as an example of cooperation, an ally to counter the influence of China and Russia in the region and above all, an essential bridgehead in the fight against jihadists in the Sahel. .
“In every country where Wagner intervened, death, destruction, exploitation took place”
From now on, Russia will perhaps outdo the Americans. The junta that has taken power in the country plans to appeal to the Wagner group. An option against which the American Secretary of State Anthony Blinken warns very seriously. “We are worried because in every country where Wagner has intervened, death, destruction, exploitation have taken hold. Insecurity has increased, not decreased,” he said.
The United States rushed Anthony Blinken’s deputy to Niamey to try to save what could be saved. But she did not have the right to a meeting with the head of the junta, Abdourahamane Tiani. A very worrying sign for American influence in the country and in the region. The United States still has 1,000 men stationed in Niger and bases that they could lose if Wagner and the Russians landed in the country.