Russia will look on Niger coup ‘very favourably’ – but it could have implications for battle against Islamic State
The apparent military coup in Niger will have serious implications for the fight against the Islamic State – but could be welcomed in Russia – an expert says.
A group of 10 officers appeared on TV in the West African nation and announced they had “put an end to the regime”.
Elected President Mohamed Bazoum has been detained and there is uncertainty about what exactly is going on.
Air force colonel Amadou Abdramane, addressing the nation, cited a “deteriorating security situation and bad governance” as the reason for the attempted coup.
Bordered to the north by Algeria and Libya, and to the south by Nigeria, Niger is in the Sahel region of Africa and is home to around 25 million people.
So if there has been a coup, how significant could it be for Niger and the wider region? Sky News spoke to international conflict and security expert Dr Benjamin Petrini to find out.
Dr Petrini, who works at the The International Institute for Strategic Studies thinktank, said a “domino effect” has been seen in the region in recent years, with a series of coups and overthrows of leaders in Mali and Burkina Faso.
He told Sky News that Niger is a “hotspot” in two major conflicts in the region: one in the Western Sahel against jihadist groups and another on the Lake Chad Basin.
“It is a very important country for Western countries, not only the US but also France in the fight against jihadist groups that has been taking place for 10 years now,” he said.
Dr Petrini described Niger’s role as “hugely important” in the response to the jihadist threat – groups like IS, Boko Haram and al-Qaeda – through things like intelligence sharing and military cooperation and training.
This, he says, is exemplified by the fact that US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger just a few months ago.
Some 2,400 foreign troops – mostly from France and the US – are currently believed to be stationed in the country.
But the possible fall of the Niger government may be welcome news in one building: the Kremlin.
Dr Petrini said the country has been subject to disinformation claims by Russia in recent years, leading to growing dissatisfaction with France’s role in the country.
This is done, he says, with the aim of splintering support for US and European assistance.
Asked if Russia would look upon the recent events favourably, Dr Petrini said yes.
“They would look at this very favourably because this is what Russian strategy has been in the last few years, to erode the Western influence”.
Hundreds of supporters of the coup were seen gathering and a Russian flag was spotted in front of the National Assembly in the capital Niamey on Thursday.
The latest developments in Niger could also have consequences for global migration, he said, with the country being a transit point for movement of people from sub-Saharan Africa.