Apparently, we have 1100 Green Berets in Niger training the army there to support the puppet government we set up there under the Clinton Administration. Wagner troops have infiltrated and the troops we were training to support the government changed sides and have now overthrown the government there. Demonstrators were reportedly waving Russian flags as they marched on government buildings. The Green Berets are reportedly now stuck there in a hostile environment. It looks like a replay of Afghanistan. Anyone hear about this?
…heard about the coup, supposedly on live TV, IIRC. I’m not “comfortably numb” yet but I’m working my way there.
I read The Economist and Foreign Affairs for many years, but it's been a while since global events like this have been on my radar screen. It's funny that none of my myriad news sites have picked this up, or perhaps I skimmed past it.
And other things. Niger is a primary provider of Uranium and other minerals. Europe is now dependent on Africa as they have cut themselves off from Russia. Putin knows this and is bringing the Africans to his side because of the colonial abuse the Africans have suffered. Even now, France is considering sending troops to put the government they want into power again.
Now Gabon has followed the lead of Niger and ousted its president whose family has ruled Gabon since 1967, reminiscent of the Duvalier family in Haiti. The government declared President Bongo to be the winner of the recent election continuing his reign, but the military, after investigation, decided there was corruption in the election and removed the president from office. After France's refusal to accede to the break in diplomatic relations in Niger by ordering the French Ambassador to remain in place, Gabon has banned Macron from the country but, as far as I know, they have not broken diplomatic relations with France. Niger has cut off all utilities to the French embassy there, so the ambassador and his staff are sitting in the dark without water. Africa seems to be rebelling against the colonial powers that have controlled the continent for many years, and France seems to be responding in typical colonialist fashion by threatening the governments there with military force. Possibly the acceptance by the BRICS alliance of Ethiopia and Egypt will make other nations in Africa to take notice. Here is a link to coverage of the Gabon coup if anyone is interested.