The coup that took place in the west Afrikan state of Niger on July 26th brought to power the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP). It was one of several in the region in recent years prompting some to state that “Anti-Imperialist Sentiment Spreads Across West Africa.” (1) The action of the CNSP has garnered widespread approval (80%) at home and solidarity from many of its neighbours. (2) The popular sentiment has been anti-imperialist in general and anti-France, perhaps the most avaricious of former colonisers, in particular. In fact in a recent poll 5% or less of Nigeriens consider France, USA, UN and China as a “loyal partner” compared to 60% for Russia. (3)
In contrast, Bola Tinubu, president of Niger’s powerful neighbour Nigeria, through the regional economic bloc ECOWAS has been sabre rattling for the restoration of deposed president President Mohamed Bazoum, but these demands have been given short shrift by Tinubu’s own senate as well as the African Union (so far). But in a declaration of regional solidarity, neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali have pledged to view any attack on Niger as a declaration of war against them. Still, the AU has suspended Niger from all of its institutions and activities “until the effective restoration of constitutional order” following last month’s coup. The junta has proposed a three-year timetable for a return to civilian rule. (4)
Yet there are some who have been sounding a note of caution. Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka, speaking on behalf of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement affirmed solidarity with the people of Niger and the region and also with the ruling juntas insofar that they are “truly defending the will and sovereignty of the people.” (5) Underpinning some of this concern are reports that “at least five members of Niger junta were trained by the US” and regionally “fourteen U.S.-trained officers have attempted at least nine coups (and succeeded in at least eight) coups in West Africa since 2008, including Burkina Faso (three times), Guinea, Mali (three times), Mauritania, and the Gambia. (6)
There are even suggestions that the coup happened with the tacit approval of the USA in pursuit supplanting France and “dollarizing” the entire continent and safeguarding its $500m investment of two drone bases and 1,100 troops stationed in Niger. (7) The USA (and other European) military presences in the region are there under the auspices of fighting “islamic terrorism” but the USA State Department and military are indicating they see growing Russian influence as a bigger threat. (8) Russia is certainly a growing factor in the region, particularly through “security support” provided by its Wagner Group operations. Indeed, before his untimely death in a plane crash a few days ago, its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin proclaimed that his group was “making Africa more free.” (9) A less optimisitc view is that all of these competing interests will make Afrika the theatre of a new cold war with no certainty on how the current leaders will respond. (10)
For his part USA trained Burkina Faso military leader Captain Ibrahim Traore who came to power in a 2022 coup d’etat, has been evoking the ideological legacy of revered revolutionary Thomas Sankara but the extent to which that example can be manifested there and across the region remains to be seen. (11)
(1) Abayomi Azikiwe (10/08/23) Anti-Imperialist Sentiment Spreads Across West Africa amid Threats against Niger. https://newsghana.com.gh/anti-imperialist-sentiment-spreads-across-west-africa-amid-threats-against-niger/
(2) Ibid. On 06/08/23 tens of thousands of Nigeriens rallied in support of the CNSP; Tass (08/08/23) Poll reveals over 60% of Nigeriens consider Russia country’s most reliable partner. https://tass.com/world/1658097Abayomi Azikiwe (22/08/22) Tens of Thousands Pledge to Resist an Imperialist-backed Intervention in Niger. https://www.globalresearch.ca/thousands-pledge-resist-imperialist-backed-intervention-niger/5829774?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=related_articles. On 19/08/23 “Supporters of Niger’s junta were forced on Saturday (Aug. 19) to halt a census of people willing to volunteer for non-military roles in defense against a possible intervention by West African powers, saying they had been overwhelmed by the numbers who turned up.”
(3) Scott Ritter (16/08/23) The US Is Caught in a Dilemma with Niger. https://www.globalresearch.ca/us-caught-dilemma-niger/5829132?utm_campaign=magnet&utm_source=article_page&utm_medium=related_articles. The author opines: “Niger, like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea before it, has thrown off the mantle of its post-colonial relationship with France.”; Tass. Op. cit
(4) Azikiwe (10/08/23). Op. cit; Sam Mednick (22/08/23) The African Union suspends Niger until ‘the effective restoration of constitutional order’. https://apnews.com/article/niger-coup-african-union-suspends-206360382e68f9df52402824029b6f82; Azikiwe (22/08/23). Op. cit.; Peter Beaumont (22/08/23) African Union issues ambiguous view on possible Niger military intervention. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/22/african-union-issues-ambiguous-view-on-possible-niger-military-intervention
(5) gotkush TV(18/08/23) What’s Happening in West Afrika? – A Pan-Afrikan Analysis • Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxJV1s22t_w
(6) Nick Turse (22//08/23) At Least Five Members of Niger Junta Were Trained by the US. https://theintercept.com/2023/08/10/niger-coup-us-military-training/#:~:text=The%20United%20States%20has%20trained,power%20in%20a%202022%20coup; Nick Turse (26/01/22) Another U.S.-trained Soldier Stages A Coup In West Africa. https://theintercept.com/2022/01/26/burkina-faso-coup-us-military/. The countries include: Burkina Faso (three times), Guinea, Mali (three times), Mauritania, and the Gambia.
(7) Prof Michel Chossudovsky (20/08/23) “Divide and Rule”: Italy’s PM Giorgia Meloni Is Biden’s “Political Asset”. U.S. Behind Niger Coup d’Etat. America’s Hegemonic Wars Against Europe and Africa. https://www.globalresearch.ca/divide-and-rule-italys-pm-giorgia-meloni-is-bidens-political-asset-u-s-behind-niger-coup-detat-americas-hegemonic-wars-against-europe-and-africa/5828714; Azikiwe (22/08/23). Op. cit; Nick Turse (19/08/23) When is a coup not a coup? when the U.S. says so. https://theintercept.com/2023/08/19/niger-coup-us-military-assistance/
(8) Julia Wright (22/08/23) France Plays Checkers, the U.S. Plays Chess in Niger. http://panafricannews.blogspot.com/; Ritter. Op. cit.
(9) Arpan Rai, Matt Drake, Andy Gregory (27/08/23) Putin orders Wagner mercenaries to sign oath of allegiance after Prigozhin death – Ukraine-Russia war live. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-wagner-prigozhin-russia-putin-live-b2399927.html; Emily McGarvey (22/08/23) Wagner chief Prigozhin seen in first video address since coup attempt.
(10) Teresa Nogueira Pinto (07/04/23) A new cold war in Africa. https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/us-strategy-africa/; Radia Mernissi (18/09/22) Africa: the theatre of the new cold war between Russia and the West? https://irtodayblog.wordpress.com/2022/09/19/africa-the-theatre-of-the-new-cold-war-between-russia-and-the-west/
(11) Steve Lalla (02/08/23) Burkina Faso’s President Traoré Delivers Anti-Imperialist Speech at Russia–Africa Summit. https://orinocotribune.com/burkina-fasos-president-traore-delivers-anti-imperialist-speech-at-russia-africa-summit/. His remarks included: “The problem is seeing African heads of state who bring nothing to peoples who are struggling, but who sing the same thing as the imperialists, calling us ‘militia,’ and therefore referring to us as men who do not respect human rights. What human rights are we talking about? We take offense at this. It is shameful. Against this, we African heads of state must stop acting like marionettes who dance each time the imperialists pull on our strings. Yesterday, President Vladimir Putin announced that grain would be shipped to Africa. This is pleasing, and we say thank you for this. However, this is also a message to our African heads of state, because at the next forum, we must not come here without having ensured… the self-sufficiency of the food supply for our people. We must learn from the experience of those who have succeeded in achieving this in Africa, weaving good relations here, and weaving better relations with the Russian Federation, in order to provide for the needs of our peoples… Power to our people. Dignity to our people. Victory to our people. Homeland or death. We will prevail.”
we ask the question:
NIGER: A new dawn in Afrika?
1) What do you make of the regional solidarity being expressed by the leaders in West Afrika? Will ECOWAS/AU threaten it?
2) Are France’s days in Afrika numbered?
3) Is it a concern that Niger/regional coup leaders were trained by USA?
4) Why does Russia seem to be so popular? Will it really make Afrika “more free”?
5) How can Afrikans outside the continent help the current situation in west Afrika?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Bro. Tahirou Mossi Ali ACCA, MBA, Bsc: is a Nigerien living in London who has been actively fighting for the freedom of oppressed people in general and black people in particular. He is particularly focused on the education of the youths by teaching them about the “Real history ” of black people and also to believe in themselves. Bro. Mossi is actively engaged in current affairs and the geopolitical situation of countries of Afrikan origin. He is a committee member of Kreative Culture Klub KCK which is a charity involved in helping and educating gifted young black youths.
Dr Abuy Nfubea: is journalist and editor Uhuru Afrika TV and Professor at MalcolmGarveyUniversity.com. He founded Black panther party in spain in 1988 and he has dedicated his life to oriented to Garveyism and reparations between Afrikan communities who speak Spanish. He founded and runs The 4th Internacional Garveyista Movement in places like Guinea Equatorial, Ghana, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Spain, Portugal, Ecuador, Mexico Colombia Curacao, Argentina, Brasil, Bolivia, Chile and Canada.
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