- Russia’s Wagner Group Exploiting Insecurity in Niger
- Concerns Over Wagner’s Presence in Sahel Region
- Coup Leaders in Niger Deny Russian Involvement, But Suspicions Linger
The Wagner mercenary organization of Russia is “taking advantage” of the insecurity in Niger.
Since the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum nearly two weeks ago, the country has been governed by a junta.
There are rumors that the coup leaders requested assistance from Wagner, which is known to be present in Mali.
Mr. Blinken stated that neither Russia nor Wagner was responsible for the rebellion in Niger.
He said the US was worried about the organisation “possibly manifesting itself” in the Sahel.
“I believe what occurred and continues to occur in Niger was not caused by Russia or Wagner, but they did attempt to profit from it.
Mr. Blinken stated, “Everywhere this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction, and exploitation have followed.”
“Insecurity has increased, not decreased.”
He added that this was a “repetition of what occurred in other countries, where they left nothing but destruction in their wake.”
The US and France have military outposts in Niger to disrupt regional extremist groups. After French troops were ordered to depart Mali as a result of a coup, Niger became their primary base.
Wagner is rumored to have thousands of combatants in countries such as the Central African Republic (CAR) and Mali. Where it has lucrative business interests and strengthens Russia’s diplomatic and economic ties.
In several African nations, the group’s fighters have been accused of pervasive violations of human rights.
There are rumours that Niger’s army has asked Wagner’s help as it considers military involvement.
Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland engaged in what she termed “difficult and frank” discussions with the coup leaders, who she said were aware of the dangers associated with working with the mercenaries.
Mr. Bazoum, who is presently detained, has also expressed concern regarding Wagner’s influence in Africa.
“With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine,” he wrote in an opinion piece published last week in the Washington Post.
It is presently unknown whether Wagner fighters have entered the country, but the prominent Wagner-affiliated Telegram channel Grey Zone reported on Monday that approximately 1,500 of its fighters were recently sent to Africa.
It did not specify on which continent they were allegedly deployed.
Wagner’s head Yevgeny Prigozhin asked the junta to “give us a call.” in a Tuesday Telegram message.
“We are always on the side of good, justice, and those who fight for their sovereignty and the rights of their people,” he said.
The coup has sparked anti-French and pro-Russian feeling in Niger, a former French colony. Similar to what neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso have experienced since their coups when they shifted their allegiance to Moscow.
The two nations, which are both suspended from the West African regional bloc Ecowas, dispatched a delegation to Niamey to reassure the coup leaders that they will defend them if necessary against the other West African nations and their Western allies.
During the visit, Mali government spokesperson Abdoulaye Maiga stated, “I would like to remind you that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been dealing with the negative… consequences of NATO’s dangerous adventure in Libya for over a decade.”
“One thing is certain, [Mali’s] President Goita and [Burkina Faso’s] President Traoré have unequivocally rejected the proposal. We will not accept the use of military force in Niger. They intend to threaten our survival.”
The Niger junta declined to receive an Ecowas, African Union, and UN mission set to arrive in Niamey on Tuesday.
The coup leaders told AFP on Tuesday that “public anger and revolt” over Ecowas sanctions threatened their safety.
Ecowas had given Niger’s coup leaders until Sunday to resign and restore Mr. Bazoum to the presidency, and will now convene on Thursday to determine the next course of action.
The Niger junta named former finance minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine prime minister after the coup.
Mr. Zeine succeeds Mr. Ouhoumoudou, who was in Europe during the rebellion.
