PNN – American media wrote: There is no clear and simple policy for this issue. In general, Washington should leave global security and geopolitical competitions in its regional relations out of its priorities. America, indeed, does not have the capacity to make significant direct contributions to creating an improved atmosphere in regional security.
It was the 20th of June when the news came that the United States had begun to withdraw military equipment and additional personnel from Niger ahead of schedule. This was done by CNN referring to the statement of the Pentagon and the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Niger. The deadline for the withdrawal of troops agreed upon by the two countries was September 15, but an informed source told this media that the United States started working earlier and “the priority of the United States is to remove sensitive equipment from Niger first.”
Not long ago, following Niger’s decision to expel American troops, Ali Al-Amin Zain, the Prime Minister of this country, in explaining his country’s decision to expel American troops, said that “Americans stayed on our soil and did nothing while terrorists killed people and burned cities. It is not a sign of friendship for them to come to our soil but allow terrorists to attack us.” He also pointed out the “pitiful and disrespectful tone” of a high-ranking American delegation visiting the country. According to Zain, Nigerian officials were insulted not only by the tone of the US messages, but also by their requests to limit security ties with Russia and threats to impose sanctions on Niger if it sells uranium to Iran. In any case, the result of these “American behaviors” of the Americans was that they were ordered to be deported from Niger!
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Following these events, the “War on the Rocks” analysis base in the United States wrote about the same issue: Zine’s statements indicate the emergence of tensions in the relations between the United States and Niger. This is partly related to Washington ending security assistance after the July 2023 coup in Niger and the military government’s refusal to accede to regional and international calls to step down. However, the main reasons for America’s failure in Niger are deeper rooted. The end of the US military presence in Niger was, most of all, the result of the political and social atmosphere created by the presence of the US and the West there.
This American media continued to write: There is no clear and simple policy for this issue. In general, Washington should leave global security and geopolitical competitions in its regional relations out of its priorities. America, indeed, does not have the capacity to make significant direct contributions to creating an improved atmosphere in regional security. Instead, it should focus on issues that can have broader constructive impacts, such as improving export access to US markets, filling humanitarian funding gaps, and investing in climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.
The coup-prone continent of Africa has once again become the platform for a new coup, whose developments seem to be beyond a coup and a kind of resistance against French rule. The country of Niger is experiencing a political coup by its army for the fifth time since its independence. But the question is, are the recent events in Niger just a traditional coup or a political action against imperialism? In other words, what is the difference between the current Niger coup and previous events?
The fact is that although the French government apparently ended its imperialist policy after the independence of Niger, the effects of modern colonialism have always been visible in this country. For example, the French government was training people who could take over the governance of Niger in the future and be able to practice politics according to the wishes of Paris. The use of the franc currency or the monitoring and exploitation of the uranium mine of this country by France was only part of the neo-colonial policy of Paris.