APIn Niger and surrounding countries, pro-Russian (and anti-Western) sentiment is growing
NOS Nieuws•vandaag, 13:02
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Eva de Vries
Foreign editor
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Eva de Vries
Foreign editor
After Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger is also strengthening ties with Russia. This week landed a group of military trainers and employees of the Russian Ministry of Defense in the capital Niamey. The company would Share to form the ‘Africa Corps’, the new name of the Wagner mercenary army on African soil.
104 104 conversations that the Nigerien leader had with President Putin last month: “With Niger on board, Russian influence in the Sahel is expanding rapidly.”
104 While the Russian authorities previously denied involvement in the mercenary group, they now fully take responsibility. 104
“Now that the Africa Corps is officially part of the Russian government, it may be easier for regimes to engage with them,” Minde explains. “A formal, bilateral cooperation with a large country like Russia is better explained than a deal with a shadowy mercenary army.”
NOS
The restart of the Wagner group comes at a good time for West African leaders. Because one military coup after another is taking place in the Sahel; first Sudan, then Mali and Burkina Faso, and last year Niger. Meanwhile, the troops of former colonizer France have left and the UN mission was forced to leave Mali. That mission helped in the fight against growing terror, because several jihadist groups with ties to IS and al-Qaeda are active in the Sahel.
“With the departure of Western military missions, a vacuum has been created, and regimes are therefore looking for alternatives,” says Kars de Bruijne, head of the Sahel program at the Clingendael Institute. 104
104 104 104 104 Regime survival package It is called.” In exchange for this protection and military aid, Russia gets access to raw materials. For example, it has control over a number of gold mines in the Central African Republic.
104 In Russian Telegram channel 104 104 104
NOS Recruitment poster in the Telegram channel KorpusAfrica
Correspondent West-Afrika Saskia Houttuin:
“If you walk around the streets of capitals such as Bamako or Bangui, it is difficult to ignore the advance of Russia. The Russian tricolor is flying on the streets and on facades. Many residents are happy with the military aid that Russia is giving them. Their leaders say that thanks to the Russian presence, important military successes are being achieved in the fight against terror.
104 For example, in Mali, in the north and central parts of the country, you will find civilians who were allegedly attacked by the Malian army, with the help of Russian mercenaries. According to Human Rights Watch 104 104
The chance that the Africa Corps can actually contribute to improving security and the fight against terror in countries such as Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger is small. The Wagner group consisted of about 5,000 to 7,000 fighters at its peak, but it is unknown how large the Russian military branch in Africa is today. “They cannot simply close the gap left by Western troops,” says De Bruijne.
But according to him, for Russia it is mainly about influence and geopolitical relations: “A pro-Russian and anti-Western wind is blowing in West Africa. It is conceivable that Russia will sit at the table in the future with countries such as Chad or even Senegal or Benin. “
Minde agrees. “Russia wants to show that it has friends on the continent. They are now taking another step, as the arrival of the Africa Corps in Niger proves.”
2024-04-13 11:02:09
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