Why Niger's latest coup opens a door for Putin in Africa
The Story
The Times
3.9 • 1.6K Ratings
🗓️ 8 August 2023
⏱️ 27 minutes
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Summary
Niger, in west Africa, has suffered its fifth coup in just over six decades of independence. This one could have repercussions far beyond its borders – not least because Africa, not the Middle East, is now the centre of global jihad. And while there is no sign of Moscow’s hand in the coup, it has been welcomed by the Wagner group and could help Putin get his claws into this uranium-rich country. So what does all this mean for the competition between world powers, not to mention our day-to-day safety?
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Guest: Richard Assheton, West Africa correspondent, The Times and The Sunday Times.
Host: Luke Jones.
Producer: Olivia Case.
Clips: BBC, CNN, Euronews, DW News, Al Jazeera, France 24, US Africa Command, TV News Nigeria, Nigerian Television Authority, Telegram.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | A group of military officers has announced a coup on national television. They said they've |
| 0:15.3 | dissolved the constitution in the West African country, suspended all institutions and closed |
| 0:20.6 | the country's borders. |
| 0:23.7 | To be expected, you might think, a country that's got a history of instability in a region |
| 0:28.5 | which has seen seven coups since 2020. But what's happening in Niger right now could be felt |
| 0:35.7 | around the world. |
| 0:37.4 | The President is a key Western ally and that's why we've heard from the US and France on this. |
| 0:43.8 | Niger was a crucial democracy. The West's last friend in a very strategically important |
| 0:50.5 | part of Africa. |
| 0:51.8 | Niger is a key Western ally in a global fight against insurgencies. The coup now complicates |
| 0:57.9 | international efforts to fight a jihadist movement. |
| 1:01.8 | This part of Africa has been identified as a terror threat for a long time. Africa is the |
| 1:09.2 | center of global jihad now. |
| 1:14.4 | And could be another foothold in the region for Russia. The mercenary Vagna Group has |
| 1:20.1 | its claws in a couple of Niger's neighbours. What about here? |
| 1:23.6 | Niger's new military junta resourced Russian mercenary group Vagna for help. |
| 1:28.5 | Kulida General Salifu Modi made contact during a visit to neighbouring Mali as international |
| 1:33.6 | pressure increases. |
| 1:39.4 | How has this happened? Does this help Islamist terrorists, Russian mercenaries, and how much |
| 1:45.4 | is world security and Western influence at risk? |
| 1:50.8 | Before listening to stories of our times from the times and the Sunday times, I'm Luke |
| 1:54.8 | Jones. Today, how Niger's fifth coup opens another door for Putin that should maybe |
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