An official of the West African bloc of nations says 11 countries in the region have agreed to commit troops to a military deployment aimed at restoring Niger’s democratically elected president following last month’s coup.

Eleven West African nations have agreed to commit troops to a military deployment aimed at restoring Niger’s democratically elected president following last month’s coup, an official for the regional bloc said Friday after a defense ministers meeting.

  • Lysol@lemmy.worldEnglish
    274·
    11 months ago

    It has been reported that the Wagner group (Russia) supported the coup in some way. Russia does have an interest in getting African nations to support them instead of the West, so it would make sense.

    • Skua@kbin.social
      182·
      11 months ago

      I could be wrong because I’m definitely not an expert here, but I don’t think Wagner has been shown to be involved yet. The junta has asked for Wagner’s help and Wagner has been active in several neighbouring countries, so they’re absolutely not a million miles away, but it looks like the actual coup happened without them

    • sirboozebum@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      11 months ago

      While Russia has an interest in weakening the regional power, France, Wagner doesn’t appear to be involved.

      The ousted President was going to fire the chief of the military and the Chief moved first.

      • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafeEnglish
        72·
        11 months ago

        Let me get this right.

        They’re having trouble with Islamic extremists. The president fires the head of the military.

        He then complains he has to launch a coup because of the military situation he has failed to resolve so hard he got fired.

        He then decides, in his infinite wisdom, to suck up to a Nazi state-run PMC, as an African, because he thinks, what, liberal nations won’t ally with military juntas if it makes them money?

        • NoneOfUrBusiness@kbin.social
          133·
          11 months ago

          I mean Niger (and other West-African nations) have been exploited to hell and back by France (who’s probably involved in the current military deployment). No wonder a new government would seek to ally with someone else instead, and I don’t think China is in the coup business.

          • DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafeEnglish
            5·
            11 months ago

            I have absolutely no doubt he plans to yell genuinely fair criticism of the French capitalist devils as he ruthlessly exploits his people in his fascist dictatorship.