Russia to the rescue for Niger’s junta
Niger’s military junta survived a mutiny over the weekend with help from Russian forces stationed in the country. Gunfire erupted in the capital city of Niamey late Friday after soldiers took loyalist troops hostage at an air base and attacked government forces near the presidential palace. That and sparked an hours-long standoff before Russia’s Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force, stepped in to help put down the uprising. The mutineers were reportedly frustrated by Niger’s security situation, which has deteriorated since the military seized power in a 2023 coup. It’s the second time in recent months that Russian forces have helped prop up a military government in the region, after assisting Mali’s junta during an attack in May. The episode is another sign of Moscow’s growing influence in the Sahel, where as many as 2,000 Russian mercenaries are now stationed across Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, allowing Moscow to pursue resource deals and fill a vacuum left by retreating Western powers.
About michelleclarke2015
Life event that changes all: Horse riding accident in Zimbabwe in 1993, a fractured skull et al including bipolar anxiety, chronic fatigue …. co-morbidities (Nietzche 'He who has the reason why can deal with any how' details my health history from 1993 to date). 17th 2017 August operation for breast cancer (no indications just an appointment came from BreastCheck through the Post). Trinity College Dublin Business Economics and Social Studies (but no degree) 1997-2003; UCD 1997/1998 night classes) essays, projects, writings. Trinity Horizon Programme 1997/98 (Centre for Women Studies Trinity College Dublin/St. Patrick's Foundation (Professor McKeon) EU Horizon funded: research study of 15 women (I was one of this group and it became the cornerstone of my journey to now 2017) over 9 mth period diagnosed with depression and their reintegration into society, with special emphasis on work, arts, further education; Notes from time at Trinity Horizon Project 1997/98; Articles written for Irishhealth.com 2003/2004; St Patricks Foundation monthly lecture notes for a specific period in time; Selection of Poetry including poems written by people I know; Quotations 1998-2017; other writings mainly with theme of social justice under the heading Citizen Journalism Ireland. Letters written to friends about life in Zimbabwe; Family history including Michael Comyn KC, my grandfather, my grandmother's family, the O'Donnellan ffrench Blake-Forsters; Moral wrong: An acrimonious divorce but the real injustice was the Catholic Church granting an annulment – you can read it and make your own judgment, I have mine. Topics I have written about include annual Brain Awareness week, Mashonaland Irish Associataion in Zimbabwe, Suicide (a life sentence to those left behind); Nostalgia: Tara Hill, Co. Meath.
canisgallicus 