Níger

With Russia lurking and diplomatic channels failing, Washington is preparing to redeploy its troops from Nigerien soil while pressure from the Chadian army threatens to end its operations

Europe and NATO are concerned about the destabilization of a region full of gold and uranium and central to migratory movements to the north

Washington is maneuvering with authorities after a coup that left the country more closely aligned with nations like Russia and Iran and ended an agreement that allowed for the presence of a U.S. air base and 1,000 military personnel

Pentagon officials said U.S. had ‘lengthy and direct’ discussions with the junta officials that were also in part spurred by concerns over Niger’s potential relationships with Russia and Iran

The division between ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States heralds a West Africa separated into antagonistic blocs, with different currencies, obliged to understand each other

After consolidating in Mali, Moscow is strengthening its collaboration with Burkina Faso and Niger through an armed structure intended to replace the Wagner Group

The military governments of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger pledged security and political collaborations under the Alliance of Sahel States

Almost half of countries have suffered setbacks in the democratic process in the last five years, according to the IDEA organization, which however highlights growing citizen participation

Climate challenges are at the root of problems faced by conflict-ridden countries in Africa’s Sahel region. The lending institutions are not taking the vulnerabilities of poor countries enough into account in their funding decisions, experts say

Hassoumi Massoudou, acting head of state of the overthrown government, says West African countries have experienced four coup d’états in two years. ‘They have said enough is enough’

The continent has witnessed 10 uprisings by the armed forces in four years and promises of transition periods to make way for civilian governments are not being honored

Drawn by natural resources, the mercenary corporation operates in Libya, the Central African Republic, Sudan, and Mali, where they strive to spread Russian influence and enrich the Kremlin

Ousted President Mohamed Bazoum had implemented measures to combat terrorism but violence has spiked in the weeks since the July 24 military takeover

This was the council’s first public communication since it met earlier this month to discuss Niger’s crisis

‘We will work together to find a way out of the crisis, in the interests of all,’ Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani said, commenting after his first meeting with a regional delegation seeking to resolve the nation’s crisis

The Economic Community of West African States has set a D-Day for its armed action but has not disclosed the date

In a region rife with coups, Niger was seen as one of the last democratic countries that Western nations could partner with to beat back a growing jihadi insurgency linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group

This is the first meeting since the defense chiefs of the Western African regional bloc ordered the deployment of a ‘standby force’ last week to restore constitutional rule in the country

A military detachment was attacked Tuesday afternoon as it moved between the villages of Boni and Torodi in the Tillaberi region

The initiative aims to recruit tens of thousands of volunteers from across the country to register for the Volunteers for the Defense of Niger

If convicted, President Bazoum could face the death penalty, according to the country’s penal code

Niger was the last Western-allied democracy in this part of Africa. But now, with the recent coup, Russia has gained influence

The head of the Russian paramilitary group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, has been meeting with representatives from Mali, the Central African Republic and Niger. The United States, meanwhile, is attempting to block the Wagner Group from profiting from African mines

The West African bloc ECOWAS had given the soldiers that overthrew Niger’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum until last Sunday to release and reinstate him or they threatened military action

It’s unclear when or where the ECOWAS regional bloc will deploy its ‘standby force’ and which countries would contribute to it