Just a
quick timeline...
The bases commenced in the early 2000s, and were at peak operations in 2017.
At the peak of operations, around 2017, American forces were providing intelligence about armed groups as well as medical and logistical support on “kill and capture” missions led by the Nigerien troops, said Alan Van Saun, the company commander of a Special Forces battalion from summer 2017 to February 2018. He said all operations were carried out at the request of the Nigerien military and with permission from the U.S. Embassy in Niger, which differentiated the mission from those in Iraq or Afghanistan, where the U.S. military had more autonomy.
Niger had their
first ever peaceful transfer of power by election in early 2021. A military faction tried a coup before Mohamed Bazoum was sworn in and it failed.
Another military coup came about in the summer of 2023, which was successful, and Mohamed Bazoum has been held captive since then.
Obviously there are people who don't want the citizens of Niger in control of selecting it's leaders. They also don't want to work w/ the Americans who were working with the elected administration.
Enter Russia.
August 2023 -
Niger coup: Wagner taking advantage of instability - Antony Blinken
Russia's Wagner mercenary group is "taking advantage" of instability in Niger, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has told the BBC.
The country has been ruled by a junta following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum nearly two weeks ago.
There have been suggestions the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali.
Mr Blinken said he did not think Russia or Wagner instigated Niger's coup.
...
"I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but... they tried to take advantage of it.
"Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed," said Mr Blinken.
Someone explain to me how any Swamper in the U.S. gov't will blame Russia for just about everything - but not in this case.
Mr Bazoum, who is currently being detained, has also spoken of his concerns about Wagner's influence in Africa.
"With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine," he wrote in an opinion piece for the Washington Post published last week.
Niger has uranium and Russia would love to be in control of it. That's how Wagner works. They have ties to military groups and control the highly sought minerals of the earth.