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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Niger announced US$150 million in direct assistance to Africa’s Sahel region.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his visit to Niger announced US$150 million in direct assistance to Africa’s Sahel region.
Blinken, while in Niger, called the state a model of democracy, a model of cooperation, and resilience. At the same time, he warned the Sahel region against the increasing presence of Russian mercenaries. At a joint news conference held with Niger’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hassoumi Massoudou, he referred to the Russian paramilitary organization known as the Wagner Group and said that countries, where the mercenaries were present, have become weaker, poorer, more insecure, and less independent.
Blinken travelled to Niger after a two-day stop in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, Blinken said, as reported by www.trendsnafrica.com that the peace agreement with its northern Tigray region should be restored before relations with the U.S. are normalized.
Niger has emerged as a key international partner in the region for the western forces including the US. There is a growing sentiment in the region against the French, particularly in Mali and Burkina Faso. People have openly waved Russian flags in those countries, urging the junta governments to lean more towards Moscow. France was an ex-colonizer of the Sahel region.
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France is in the process of relocating its troops to more friendly countries like Niger, after its withdrawal from Burkina Faso and Mali. France tried to help the Malian military combat Islamic extremists for nearly a decade. About 1,000 Wagner mercenaries are believed to be operating in Mali. France, as also other European countries, which have deployed their troops in the Sahel region, accuses Wagner mercenaries of gross human rights violations. The charge of recruiting Wagner mercenaries is squarely refuted by Burkina Faso’s military junta.
