The ripple effects of the coup in Niger
Post Reports
The Washington Post
4.4 • 5.1K Ratings
🗓️ 23 May 2024
⏱️ 34 minutes
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Summary
Niger has been a key U.S. ally in West Africa in the fight against growing threats from Islamist extremist groups. But a military coup last July soured that relationship. Now, the U.S. says it will withdraw from the country by mid-September.
For more than a decade, the U.S. military presence in Niger has enabled U.S. intelligence gathering, monitoring and support to Niger, as it works to contain extremist groups.
After last year’s coup, many Nigeriens support their country’s new leadership, hoping they can better fight violence from these groups. But discussions between the United States and Niger’s military junta have broken down.
Today on “Post Reports,” West Africa bureau chief Rachel Chason shares what she learned in an exclusive interview with Niger’s prime minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, and what this could all mean for Nigerien and American national security interests.
Read more:
U.S. lays out plans for withdrawing troops from Niger
U.S. threats led to rupture of vital military ties, Nigerien leader says
Why the Islamic State is surging in Africa
Today’s show was produced by Elana Gordon. It was edited by Ted Muldoon and Lucy Perkins and mixed by Sean Carter.
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Transcript
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| 0:40.2 | so much. All right, here's this show. |
| 0:45.0 | Communicate the government of the Republic of Niger |
| 0:48.8 | port at the conicence of the opinion. |
| 0:50.7 | On a Saturday night in March, a spokesman for the military that rules the West African country |
| 0:56.0 | Niger, went on national television. |
| 0:59.9 | Colonel Major Amadu Aptrohrmann looked directly into the camera. |
| 1:04.7 | He appeared stern as he read a statement. |
| 1:08.0 | The message was clear. |
| 1:08.8 | The presence Americans on the territory of the Republic of Niger and illegal. |
| 1:15.0 | The American presence on Niger's territory is illegal, he said, and violates all constitutional |
| 1:22.3 | and democratic rules. |
| 1:24.0 | If you all totally read the constitutional and democratic. |
| 1:28.0 | In other words, the American military presence is done here. |
| 1:32.0 | Time to get out. |
| 1:34.0 | As I'm watching this, I'm thinking like, |
| 1:38.0 | wow, this is quite a significant moment |
... |
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