(LONGREAD) PRIMER ON THE SITUATION IN WEST AFRICA

A developing crisis on the vast continent of Africa has the promise of another transatlantic proxy war against Russia written all over it. At first it looked like the coup d'etat in Niger that ousted a pro Western President from power, was a remnant of the colonial era. The French, whose great number of nuclear power plants are dependent on African uranium, have threatened intervention. France has imposed sanctions on the country and has suspended aid to Niger aligned nation of Burkina Faso.

 


But a closer look reveals that the situation rather bears the hallmark of a heated version of the Cold War. The military leaders in Niger have asked the assistance of Russia's Foreign Legion -- the Wagner group stationed in nearby Mali, Libya and Sudan -- to intervene on its behalf. Russia itself has condemned the coup.

A look at the map of Africa shows an entire sub Saharan belt across the continent as a potential powder keg.


The pro Western economic union of West African states, Ecowas (Wiki) has been greenlighted by the UN to intervene in Niger to get the President of Niger reinstated. So far the Ecowas members of Nigeria, Senegal, and Ivory Coast have stated they will assist with a military operation against Niger. But they need more time to deploy, possibly until Sunday, Aug. 13.

It is to be hoped that Ecowas is self-supporting when it comes to weapons and ammunitions production, because the West have emptied all its arsenals supporting the war in Ukraine. 

In Ecowas member state Nigeria, the Senate has rejected intervention in Niger. Suspended members Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali have declared their support for Niger. And the heads of Burkina Faso and Mali said that any military intervention in Niger will be tantamount to a declaration of war. 

Burkina Faso banned the export of uranium to France and the United States. Algeria will also support Niger in case of external military aggression.

Jackson Hinkle has the latest on the situation. 

Aug. 7, 2023 Jackson Hinkle: Russia Launches Massive Missile Operation, Niger Closes Airspace Ahead Of Invasion.

Here's Col. Douglas McGregor on the situation. 


In the meantime freshly promoted US Acting Deputy Secretary of State and notorious russophobe, Victoria Nuland met with the rebels in Niger. The US already has 1.100 troops in the country. Negotiations were said to have been "frank and difficult", diplo talk for a row. Nuland said inter alia:

"I wanted to point out to the putschist leaders the impact of not restoring democracy on the relationship between United States and Niger and the dangers of allying with Wagner. I did not meet with coup leader, General Abd al-Rahman Tianyi or detained President, Mohamed Bazoum."

Aug. 9, 2023 The Duran: Nuland, 'frank and difficult' meeting in Niger.


Curiously Biden blocked uranium mining today on a million acres bordering the Grand Canyon. Now why would he do that? To make the US dependent on Africa, thereby 'legitimizing ' an intervention?


The ousted President of Niger, Bazoum is being held "hostage," but he has written a letter nevertheless that was published in the Washington Post. The language is such that it may have been written by a clerk in the State Dept., inviting the US to intervene.


 

The commander of the Wagner group meantime gave an interview about the situation in Niger from his side of the perspective. 


Here are a few comprehensive postings by activist J.C. Okechukwu explaining the situation.


So far negotiations between Ecowas and Niger have failed. Niger has suspended all diplomatic ties with France, the United States, Togo and Nigeria and is withdrawing its ambassadors. They want France out of the country within a month. 


With the war in Ukraine as good as lost, the US is now preparing for a Western intervention in Africa. An American transport C-17A arrived in Benin on Aug. 4. It is surprising how within hours the Benin government gave its support for a military strike on Niger. 

Forget  for now about the Trans Sahara pipeline project that is projected to carry Nigerian gas into energy strapped, de-industrializing Europe!


And apart of economic hegemony here we have the crux of what is animating the BRICS, the Eurasians, the Africans, the South Americans and so many others. Its the cultural domination of the West, also known as the woke ideology or Radical Liberal Universalism. They're just not going to take the moral depravities thought up by the West. 


STOP THE PRESSES


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