By Sam MednickThe Related Press
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Niger’s new navy junta has requested for assist from the Russian mercenary group Wagner because the deadline nears for it to launch the nation’s ousted president or face attainable navy intervention by the West African regional bloc, in keeping with an analyst.
The request got here throughout a go to by a coup chief, Gen. Salifou Mody, to neighboring Mali, the place he made contact with somebody from Wagner, Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior analysis fellow on the Soufan Heart, instructed The Related Press. He mentioned three Malian sources and a French diplomat confirmed the assembly first reported by France 24.
“They want (Wagner) as a result of they may develop into their assure to carry onto energy,” he mentioned, including that the group is contemplating the request. A Western navy official, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to remark, instructed the AP they’ve additionally heard reviews that the junta requested for assist from Wagner in Mali.
Niger’s junta faces a Aug. 6 deadline set by the regional bloc, often known as ECOWAS, to launch and reinstate the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who has described himself as a hostage.
Protection chiefs from ECOWAS member states finalized an intervention plan on Aug. 4 and urged militaries to organize sources after a mediation staff despatched to Niger on Aug. 3 wasn’t allowed to enter the capital or meet with junta chief Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani.
On Aug. 5, Nigeria’s Senate suggested the nation’s president, the present ECOWAS chair, to additional discover choices apart from the usage of pressure to revive democracy in Niger, noting the “current cordial relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians.” The legislators had deliberated on the president’s request informing them of ECOWAS’ selections and Nigeria’s involvement, as required by regulation.
Last selections by ECOWAS, nonetheless, are taken by a consensus amongst its member nations.
After his go to to Mali, run by a sympathetic junta, Mody warned towards a navy intervention, vowing that Niger would do what it takes to not develop into “a brand new Libya,” Niger’s state tv reported Aug. 4.
Niger has been seen because the West’s final dependable counterterrorism companion in a area the place coups have been frequent lately. Juntas have rejected former colonizer France and turned towards Russia.
Wagner operates in a handful of African nations, together with Mali, the place human rights teams have accused its forces of lethal abuses.
It isn’t attainable to say Russia is straight concerned in Niger’s coup, however “clearly, there’s an opportunistic angle on the a part of Russia, which tries to assist destabilization efforts wherever it finds them,” French international affairs ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre instructed broadcaster BFM on Aug. 4. For days after Niger’s junta seized energy, residents waved Russian flags within the streets.
The spokeswoman described Wagner as a “recipe for chaos.”
Some residents rejected the junta’s method.
“It’s all a sham,” mentioned Amad Hassane Boubacar, who teaches on the College of Niamey. “They oppose international interference to revive constitutional order and legality. However quite the opposite, they’re able to make a pact with Wagner and Russia to undermine the constitutional order … They’re ready for the nation to go up in flames in order that they’ll illegally preserve their place.”
On Aug. 5, France’s international affairs minister, Catherine Colonna, mentioned the regional risk of pressure was credible and warned the putschists to take it severely. “Coups are now not applicable … It’s time to place an finish to it,” she mentioned. The ministry mentioned France supported the ECOWAS efforts “with firmness and dedication” and known as for Bazoum and all members of his authorities to be freed.
However Algeria, which borders Niger to the north, instructed one other visiting ECOWAS delegation that it opposed a navy intervention, although it too needs a return to constitutional order.
Niger’s navy leaders have been following the playbook of Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso, additionally run by a junta, however they’re transferring quicker to consolidate energy, Nasr mentioned: “(Tchiani) selected his path, so he’s going full on it with out losing time as a result of there’s worldwide mobilization.”
One query is how the worldwide group will react if Wagner is available in, he mentioned. When Wagner got here into Mali on the finish of 2021, the French navy was ousted quickly afterward after years of partnership. Wagner was later designated a terrorist group by america, and worldwide companions might need a stronger response now, Nasr mentioned.
And far more is at stake in Niger, the place the U.S. and different companions have poured a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars} of navy help to fight the area’s rising jihadi risk. France has 1,500 troopers in Niger, although coup leaders say they’ve severed safety agreements with Paris. The U.S. has 1,100 navy personnel within the nation.
It’s unclear what a regional intervention would seem like, when it might start or whether or not it might obtain assist from Western forces. Niger’s junta has known as on the inhabitants to look at for spies, and self-organized protection teams have mobilized at night time to observe automobiles and patrol the capital.
“If the junta had been to dig in its heels and rally the populace across the flag — presumably even arming civilian militias — the intervention might morph right into a multifaceted counterinsurgency that ECOWAS wouldn’t be ready to deal with,” mentioned a report by the Hudson Institute, a conservative U.S. suppose tank.
Whereas some in Niger are bracing for a combat, others try to deal with journey and financial sanctions imposed by ECOWAS. Land and air borders with ECOWAS nations have been closed, whereas industrial and monetary transactions have been suspended.
Residents mentioned the value of products is rising and there’s restricted entry to money.
“We’re deeply involved in regards to the penalties of those sanctions, particularly their impacts on the provision of important meals merchandise, prescribed drugs, medical gear, petroleum merchandise and electrical energy,” mentioned Sita Adamou, president of Niger’s Affiliation to Defend Human Rights.
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Related Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris; Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria; and Aomar Ouali in Algiers, Algeria, contributed.
