The current tensions appear to be at a “stop” between the perpetrators of the military coup in Niger and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), consisting of 15 countries, which is preparing to intervene in Niger to restore democracy and restore constitutional order. .
The Economic Community of West African States decided to act after the putschist generals refused to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Neighboring Nigeria is the great regional power. The population of 220 million, the most populous country in the region, was tasked with managing the operation.
The Nigerian president says the use of force is a “last resort”. He is hesitant because of the growing opposition in his country to military intervention in Niger.
And Canada in all of this?
On Saturday, Ottawa announced the suspension of all direct funding to Niger’s government, which has received nearly $600 million over the past 20 years.
Canada “strongly condemns the coup attempt” and questions its military assistance aimed at training its army to fight the jihadists of al-Qaeda and ISIS. Since 2013, up to 50 Canadian soldiers have given Nigerian soldiers a few weeks of tactical training each year.
National Defense spokeswoman Jessica Lamirandi told us on Friday that there was no ongoing training in Niger, but that Canadian soldiers were on site to prepare for potential future training — conditions permitting. At the moment, there are no plans to evacuate them.
Canada’s policy failed like that of the United States and France in Niger, and the democratically elected government they supported was overthrown…often by the soldiers they trained. the site The objection Reports indicate that the US has trained at least five members of the Nigerian military council and other military coup leaders implicated in coups elsewhere in the Sahel.
The deteriorating security situation in Africa is indicative of the misuse of Canadian and Western security and development spending on the continent. The repeated coups in the Sahel show that the West is failing to defend democracy in the region. Nor has it succeeded in subduing the Islamist fighters. Coming from Libya in 2012, jihadists spread there from Mali.
towards a regional conflict
Military intervention in Niger could lead to a major regional war: Mali and Burkina Faso have warned that they will support the military junta in Niger. The United States and France (and possibly Canada) will be involved, directly or indirectly. There are 1,500 French soldiers and nearly 2,000 American soldiers in Niger. Both the Germans and the Italians have about 800 soldiers each.
The coup generals in Niger view Moscow as a potential ally, prompting protesters to fly Russian flags in the streets of Niamey. The Russian mercenary group Wagner, already active in the Central African Republic, Libya, Sudan and Mali, wants to spread throughout the Sahel region. Obviously, Niger and Chad are his next target.
democracy in Africa
It has been argued that democracy in Africa reduces the risk of corruption by promoting good governance. This is often not the case. South Africa’s post-apartheid democratic system proved to be very corrupt.
Is democracy possible in countries where the majority of the population lives in poverty and is poorly educated – many of whom cannot read or write?
