PREAMBLE

A couple of weeks ago, shortly after the coup in Niger, a friend asked this question on a platform I belonged to.

“Please what’s this thing about Russia and African Summit??? Niger and co…. Someone wants to throw more light please”.

Here was my response to his questions and my thoughts on the Niger impasse.

COLD WAR RE-ENACTMENT

The issue ongoing on the northern border of Nigeria seems to me a re-enactment of the Cold War era but with a twist towards “African reawakening” from the drudgery of western continuous colonisation. 

Russia is seeking to deepen its ties with African countries in the light of the western hypocrisy that has become much pronounced with the Ukraine-Russian War, the LGBT agenda and economic blackmail through threat of sanctions and aid withdrawal from non-compliant African nations to the whims and caprices of the western world and so call developed nations.

ENTER IN BRICS

Russia is not alone in this courting of African nations, China as well as been making incursion into Africa through “freebies” infrastructure support and economic aid at seemingly better offer than western offer. This has culminated into forming of BRICS, which is the grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa way back in 2006 and with South Africa joining in 2010 and more nations applying to join or have already joined. Jim O’Neill, then Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, a renowned economist had, in an article published in 2009, “Building Better Global Economic BRICs “described the countries forming BRICS to be fast-growing economies that he predicted would collectively dominate the global economy by 2050.

It is worth pointing out that, European nations and the United States are not part of it…

FAMILY SQUABBLES AND RE-ALIGNMENT OF IDEOLOGIES

If you look at the countries where coup had occurred in Africa, all those countries are francophone countries (except Sudan), and France has allegedly been having issues with her ex-colonies as it has been facing open rebellion and confrontation about her polices and overbearing conduct. Niger has expelled all French and European nationals in the country in the aftermath of the coup, Idriss Derby of Chad was allegedly killed at the ‘battlefront’ after he disagreed with France, Mali’s coup occurred after alleged disagreement with France and even the Niger coup occurred after an alleged disagreement with France. (Coup was carried out by the Presidential Guards but without the support of the larger Military units, the most senior military officer took charge, reminiscent of the first military coup in Nigeria). Suffice to say, the days of French belligerence over her former colonies is almost at an end with their cup overflowing with their unyielding burdens, exploitation, and arm twisting. 

This is more a signal to the Western nations led in vanguard by the United States and Britain that the era of “do as I say, and do as I do “is gradually coming to an end…with a new crop of generation that has their own mind, will and are willing to take charge of the destiny of their country. Reminisce of the era of Thomas Sankara, Che Guevara, and others in their ilk.

BIG BROTHER TO THE RESCUE

ECOWAS, under the chairmanship of Nigeria had given Niger 7 days to restore power to the duly democratic leaders and the body has the backing of the Western nation over this but with Russia speaking in favour of Niger saying, an armed invasion would not solve the problem. China however is silent. Mali and Burkina Faso including Algeria have all spoken in favour of Niger…all francophone countries.  And it begs for answers, why you would consider an armed invasion to restore democratic authority when majority of the local population are in support of coup and against the invasion and interference in their sovereign affairs (https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/27/niger-coup-supporters-rally-after-french-ambassador-ordered-out/). Is it that we didn’t learn anything from history during the Vietnam War with the United States bogged and forced out in shame? (https://www.britannica.com/event/Vietnam-War/The-United-States-negotiates-a-withdrawal). What of the hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan by the coalition forces? Is Libya, Syria any better from where they started off?

Should the invasion go ahead as planned, the whole northern corridor of Nigeria would be at dis-ease as it would become a hotbed for terrorism and banditry. If you ask how, how would you differentiate a terrorist from a refugee? The North East just had a semblance of peace, and ECOWAS wants to open the door of chaos into Nigeria and the whole Northern African region. It needs no further saying that Nigeria would be worse off should this fiasco proceed.

VITAL LESSONS

1.         Western influence is waning on all fronts in particular the economic and social fronts.

2.         Irresponsible leadership is breeding the ground for change.

3.         Francophone countries are no more taking the overindulgence of France.

4.         Anglophone African countries need to be wary least we are caught at crossroads… likewise other African nations.

5.         New kids on the block are willing to do what it takes to spread their influence…i.e., Russia and China with the tacit support of the Gulf Nations. (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-russia-brics-iran-saudi-arabia-egypt-among-nations-join-economic-bloc/#:~:text=The%20United%20Arab%20Emirates%2C%20Argentina,Global%20South%20in%20world%20affairs.)

6.         Military coup d’état is not really a sustainable solution to the issues plaguing African countries, but rather a deliberate, visionary planning and implementation.

7. The ripple effect of invading Niger would revert and spread throughout West and North Africa and it would become a war of ideologies with casualties unending…and the puppet masters…forming aid and support.

CONCLUSION

1.    ECOWAS, by extension African Union, needs to seat this out and tell themselves the home truth. 

2.    Bad leadership is an ill-wind that does no one any good in the long run.

3.    Citizens must be encouraged to be deliberate in their involvement in nation building, active in policy formulation and implementation, and active in politics.

4.    Citizens must be encouraged to shun sabotaging, deferring, or shirking away from taking responsibility for actions and inactions. 

5.    For the above to happen, leaders must lead by example and weigh the interest of the people and nation first, over their own personal interest.

6.    ECOWAS needs to avoid fighting a proxy war and let Niger sort her family issues out the way they deemed fit.

7.    France needs to as a matter for of urgency, review her policies with her “former colonies” and unequivocally without hesitation desist from hoarding and holding ransom the resources and autonomy of these nations. Same applies to all concerned western nations.

8.    Western nations also need to own up to the atrocities committed by them during the era of colonisation and modern-day slavery that they have implemented. It’s disgusting to think of how Great Britain and others fed fat on underdeveloped nations in the name of colonisation but still maintain a stranglehold on the resources and people of the nations.

9.    The idea that western “ideology” is best for the world needs to be stopped immediately. The world has seen through their ideological hypocrisy, and the earlier they back off and keep their “filthy paws” to themselves, the better everyone would be in peace, beneath their vine and fig tree.

10.ECOWAS, stop the drumbeats of war NOW!

My two cents in my little corner…