Books - Mohammad Nassar

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated during his press remarks today that they are concerned about the Russian mercenary group Wagner exploiting instability in Niger.

Niger is currently ruled by a military council, following the overthrow of elected President Mohamed Bazoum about two weeks ago.

There are indications that the coup leaders requested assistance from Wagner, known to be present in neighboring Mali.

The leader of the Russian mercenaries Wagner announced a temporary halt to recruiting fighters and a focus on Africa and Belarus
Russia and Ukraine: What does the Wagner rebellion represent for their fighters in Africa?
Blinken stated that he does not believe that Russia or Wagner instigated the coup in Niger.

However, the United States is concerned that the group "may assert itself" in parts of the African Sahel region, as he told the "Eye on Africa" program.

Blinken added, "I believe what happened and is still happening in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but they are trying to take advantage of it."

He said, "Every place Wagner has gone, death, destruction, and exploitation have followed."

"The level of insecurity has risen, not decreased."

He added that there has been "a repetition of what happened in other countries, where they brought nothing but bad things in their wake."

Wagner is believed to have thousands of fighters in countries including the Central African Republic and Mali, where it enjoys lucrative business interests but also enhances Russia's diplomatic and economic relations with those countries.

Members of the group have been accused of committing widespread human rights abuses in several African countries.

Despite this, there is speculation that the Niger military may have requested Wagner's assistance as the country faces the prospect of external military intervention.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a trade bloc comprising 15 countries in West Africa, set a deadline that expired last Sunday for the military council leaders to step down and restore elected President Mohamed Bazoum to his position.

This deadline was ignored, and ECOWAS is scheduled to hold a meeting next Thursday to decide what to do next.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland had what she described as "difficult and candid" talks with the coup leaders in Niger on Monday, whom she said understand the risks of working with mercenaries.

In an op-ed for The Washington Post published last week, it was stated: "With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire Central Sahel region could fall under Russian influence through the Wagner group, which has revealed its brutal terrorism in Ukraine."

It is currently unclear whether Wagner fighters have entered Niger, but the group's channel on the Telegram app (Grey Zone) stated on Monday that around 1,500 of its fighters had recently been sent to Africa.

Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin urged the ruling military council in Niger to "contact us" in a voice message posted on Telegram on Tuesday.

He said, "We are always on the side of good, on the side of justice, and on the side of those fighting for their sovereignty and the rights of their peoples."

The spokesperson for the Malian government, Abdallah Maiga, during the visit, said: "I would like to remind you that Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have been dealing for over 10 years with the negative consequences ... of NATO's dangerous adventure in Libya."

He added, "One thing is certain, President Goita and President Traore (the president of Mali, Assimi Goita, and the president of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore) clearly said no, no, and no. We will not accept military intervention in Niger."

Meanwhile, the military council in Niger appointed the country's former finance minister, Ali Mohammed Lamine Zein, as the new prime minister after the coup.

Zein replaces "Mohamadou Ouhamoudou," who was in Europe at the time of the coup.