A deadly attack in Niger claims the lives of 17 soldiers, raising concerns of escalating jihadist activity following the recent overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum. Supporters of the military junta face the dual threat of ECOWAS military intervention and internal extremism, as a new militia mobilizes to back the nation&#8217;s armed forces.



At least 17 soldiers from the Nigerien military were killed in an attack on Tuesday, potentially signaling an escalation in jihadist activity in a country that has long been considered a partner to the West in combating extremism in the Sahel region. This attack is the first of its kind since Niger&#8217;s democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown by a military junta in late July. The Nigerien junta stated that at least 100 attackers were killed in retaliation, although this claim could not be independently confirmed.



Supporters of the junta, condemned by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), seem to have been motivated by the threat of military intervention by ECOWAS, as well as the internal extremist threat. Reports suggest the emergence of a new militia, the Volunteers for the Defense of Niger, which is recruiting volunteers to support the nation&#8217;s armed forces.



ECOWAS, which denounced the attack on the Nigerien security forces, continues to call for the restoration of democratic order. &#8220;ECOWAS calls on the CNSP-military leadership in Niger to restore constitutional order in order to focus on the security of the increasingly fragile country,&#8221; stated the body in a recent release.



Officials of the bloc also attended an African Union (AU) meeting on Monday in Addis Ababa to discuss the situation in Niger. The situation seems unlikely to resolve soon, given the mixed signals from many of the involved parties. The junta recently expressed openness to diplomatic discussions but seemed to reverse its stance last Sunday by announcing the intention to charge captive President Bazoum with high treason.



Both ECOWAS and the AU condemned the legal threat against Bazoum, but this incident appears to have stalled further talks. The newly appointed US Ambassador to Niger, Kathleen FitzGibbon, is expected to arrive in the capital city of Niamey this week, which could potentially lead to diplomatic progress. However, as these efforts stall, the stability of the region remains precariously fractured.

Demonstration of coup supporters in Niger

17 Soldiers Killed in Niger Attack, Escalating Concerns Over Extremism

Why the World Food Programme’s gong is a defining moment in history.



The sight of David Beasley, in a recent tweet, sitting on the floor of the World Food Programme (WFP) office in Niger surrounded by staff, celebrating a well-deserved Nobel peace prize win, brought back memories of Nasseiba Ali.



I was on assignment for the Associated Press to uncover an ongoing acute food crisis in Niger. My journey led me to a life-changing encounter with Ali, a 20-month-old girl who weighed just 12 pounds.&nbsp;&nbsp;



I waved, talked, sang to her, but it prompted no reaction from Ali. Little did I know that her eyes clouded at night, one of the symptoms of her chronic malnourishment.&nbsp;



A mission initially scheduled for one week stretched for an entire month and led me to Zinder, Maradi, Tawa, and Agadez. I met Ali and her grandmother at a feeding center set up in Maradi, 540 kilometers (335 miles) from Niamey, the capital of Niger.



Ali was lucky to make it to the center, barely alive after her grandma trekked several hours with her on her back.



Despite an exceptionally hard and emotionally charged assignment, I witnessed first-hand the outstanding work of hundreds of dedicated and selfless champions on the frontline of hunger.&nbsp;



The WFP&#8217;s 2020 Nobel Peace Prize win is only natural. Indeed, it is a testimony of the humanitarians&#8217; admirable mission to help end world hunger, often in emergency settings.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Today, 690 million people still go to bed on an empty stomach.



One in nine people worldwide still does not have enough to eat.



The WFP&#8217;s gong is a defining moment in history,&nbsp;yes, but more importantly, it has moved the critical issue of hunger on top of the global agenda. Thus, igniting and conveying a renewed sense of urgency.



It is a defining moment for the institution&nbsp;forging ahead to move the needle on ending world hunger, under the leadership of its Executive Director.



The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize has created a renewed impetus to rally around hunger, scale-up efforts to mobilize much-needed funds.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Despite raising $8 billion in 2019, $4.1 billion is still needed to bridge the funding gap.&nbsp;



At stake are the lives of millions on the brink of starvation.



The Norwegian Nobel Committee described the humanitarian organization as &#8220;a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.&#8221;



Without taking away anything from the WFP, I can say that&nbsp;the WFP&#8217;s gong is a defining moment in history&nbsp;for multilateralism, and our collective resolve to save lives, change lives and make a difference.



Other equally dedicated multilateral institutions, such as the African Development Bank, the World Bank, the Asian Development, to name just a few, deserve our attention.



Indeed, these institutions provide life-saving support to millions globally, often in extremely fragile settings.



At the Bank, we did our part to provide relief to our Regional Member Countries with a $10 billion Covid Respond Fund. The funds helped bring urgent relief and retool our economies in the wake of the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic.



When Covid-19 hit, WFP’s Beasley warned of potential famine of “biblical proportions&#8221;.



The Bank’s Feed Africa strategy aligns with the WFP’s objectives to end hunger.&nbsp; Approvals under the <a href="https://www.afdb.org/en/annual-report/financial-report/bank-group-operations-through-high-5-lens/feed-africa">Bank’s Feed Africa priority amounted to UA 884.7 million in 2019, making a difference in the lives of 20.3 million people, 9.6 million of them women.</a>



Through my lens as an African woman, a wife, the scenes of empty thatched-roof huts where villagers store grain, the scenes of acacia leaves boiled into a thick paste, eaten in the evening in hopes it will lull the children to sleep, are still vivid.



Fifteen years after my encounter with Ali, the world is still gripped by vast food insecurity. Yet, there is every reason to be hopeful. Not because the challenges are fewer, not because we have the resources at hand, but simply because there is a sense of renewed impetus around reversing hunger.



As Nelson Mandela said: “Remember to celebrate milestones as you prepare for the road ahead.” The 2020 Nobel Peace Prize is a key milestone. A moment to celebrate while we brace for future challenges and more wins!



– By Nafissatou N’diaye Diouf, the Ag. Director, Communication and External Relations at the African Development Group. A former Associated Press journalist for West and Central Africa, she has covered several crises including an acute food crisis in Niger in 2005.

YEMEN-CONFLICT-AID

On The Frontline Of Hunger

On <a href="http://time.com/4986918/us-military-niger-soldier-deaths-investigaton/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">October 4</a> an American Special Forces team was ambushed by a contingent of Islamic State affiliated fighters in Niger. Four American soldiers were killed and two wounded. The team of 12 soldiers was returning from a meeting with community leaders when it ran into a group of up to 50 terrorists.
The incident caused a furore in the US, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-africa-security/u-s-deaths-in-niger-highlight-africa-military-mission-creep-idUSKBN1CB2J1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sparking recollection</a> of 1993’s “<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/av/magazine-38808175/black-hawk-down-the-somali-battle-that-changed-us-policy-in-africa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Black Hawk Down</a>” incident in Somalia that saw 18 American soldiers killed. Questions were raised about how it was that four US soldiers died, why one of the bodies was <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/20/politics/us-niger-ambush-sgt-la-david-johnson/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">retrieved only 48 hours after the ambush</a>, and <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/us-troops-niger/story?id=50559788" target="_blank" rel="noopener">why US troops were in Niger in the first place</a>. US President Donald Trump’s failure to address the matter with the necessary <a href="http://edition.cnn.com/2017/10/18/politics/john-mccain-niger-attack-response/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">transparency</a> and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/18/us/politics/trump-widow-johnson-call.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sensitivity</a> fueled the agitation.
The Niger incident reaffirmed the need to ask important questions about <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/29/death-us-soldiers-in-niger-restarts-debate-about-military-involvement-post-vietnam.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">US military presence</a> in foreign territories and in this case, in Africa. African institutions that advocate for <a href="http://www.un.org/humansecurity/human-security-unit/human-security-approach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">human security</a> must continuously question the motives behind US military presence on the continent as well as its impact.
The US has an extensive military presence on the continent. In 2016 it was <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.com/bryan-maygers/nick-turse-tomorrows-battlefield_b_7480360.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that its military had been involved with more than 90% of the 54 countries in Africa.
Two important and related questions arise following the Niger incident. Is the US military’s presence in Africa <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/americas-proxy-wars-africa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">good or bad</a> for Africa’s security? And is America pursuing the right strategy to combat terrorism on the continent? These are pertinent questions given that Africa is “<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2017/10/25/africa-becomes-new-battleground-isis-and-al-qaeda-they-lose-ground-mideast/796148001/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the new battleground</a>” in the fight against terrorism.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/investment-guide/2017/10/30/west-africa-less-attractive-investors/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: Why Is West Africa Less Attractive To Investors?</a>
<h2>The history</h2>
The US military’s presence in Africa is best understood in the wider context of America’s national security strategy. In establishing a military presence with global reach, the Americans are informed by what they call “<a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/the-united-states-probably-has-more-foreign-military-bases-than-any-other-people-nation-or-empire-in-history/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">forward strategy</a>”. This is a national security policy shaped during the Cold War.
“Forward strategy” was based on the idea that establishing and maintaining a significant US military presence in close proximity to the former Soviet Union would discourage communist expansion. This encouraged the emergence of America’s global military footprint either through a physical presence or in the form of <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2016/02/east-west-cold-war-legacy-africa-160214113015863.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">proxy forces</a> belonging to sympathetic or opportunistic governments.
Forward strategy <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/21/september11.usa13" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gained renewed impetus</a> following the <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/events/the_september_11th_terrorist_attacks" target="_blank" rel="noopener">9/11 attacks</a> on the World Trade Centre and the Pentagon. This renewal was marked when the president George W. Bush declared a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/sep/21/september11.usa13" target="_blank" rel="noopener">war on terror</a>.
Africa had already featured in the story of the fight against terror, when in <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/august/7/newsid_3131000/3131709.stm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">1998</a> US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya were bombed by <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/shared/spl/hi/pop_ups/04/world_al_qaeda/html/2.stm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Al-Qaeda</a>. In 2007, and following Bush’s declaration, the “United States Africa Command” (<a href="http://www.heritage.org/defense/report/us-africa-command-challenges-and-opportunities" target="_blank" rel="noopener">AFRICOM</a>) was established as the <a href="https://www.defense.gov/About/Military-Departments/Unified-Combatant-Commands/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ninth unified combatant command</a>. AFRICOM was founded with the <a href="http://www.africom.mil/what-we-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">operational objective</a> to neutralise <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-24587491" target="_blank" rel="noopener">violent extremist organisations</a> and beef up regional security on the continent.
The US troop contingent in Niger is part of this effort. AFRICOM is also engaged in an array of <a href="http://www.africom.mil/what-we-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">supporting activities</a> deemed necessary for ensuring regional security. These include <a href="https://www.cfr.org/blog/us-arms-sales-kenya" target="_blank" rel="noopener">foreign military sales</a>, <a href="https://www.cfr.org/report/reforming-us-international-military-education-and-training-program" target="_blank" rel="noopener">military education and training</a>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22173596" target="_blank" rel="noopener">provision of healthcare</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjPLskdV7h0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">veterinary services</a>.
The US military’s strategic objective is underpinned by two ideals: the <a href="http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/clauswtz/clwt000d.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“economy of force”</a> and <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/04/north-korea-preventive-war/523833/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">“preventative war”</a>. “Economy of force” refers to the idea that it’s more cost effective to train and equip African forces in the fight against terror than to commit extensive numbers of US troops. “Preventative war” centres on the argument that large wars can be avoided by fighting on smaller scales wherever necessary.
America’s forward strategy persisted under both the <a href="https://www.thenation.com/article/the-united-states-probably-has-more-foreign-military-bases-than-any-other-people-nation-or-empire-in-history/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Bush and Obama administrations</a>. By all indications it is a strategy that’s <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/25/world/africa/white-house-pushes-military-might-over-humanitarian-aid-in-africa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">likely to continue</a> under Trump.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/politics/2017/10/04/trumps-africa-policy-still-incoherent-key-signals-emerging/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: Trump&#8217;s Africa policy is still incoherent</a>
<h2>Citizens will pay a price</h2>
The danger is that, in some instances, citizens can bear the brunt of a US military presence that involves training and equipping of African forces. This is particularly true in countries where interventions, inadvertently perhaps, <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/old-wounds-deep-scars-us-intervention-africa-20131010101130448232.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">strengthen repressive state apparatus</a>. On the other hand <a href="http://www.global-geneva.com/keeping-it-family-how-africas-corrupt-leaders-stay-in-power/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Africa’s gatekeepers</a> &#8211; self-interested, ruling elites &#8211; have the means to ensure their own security. They control the state, and its access to foreign partnerships and aid, whether military or otherwise.
A <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/02/18/is-the-us-military-propping-up-ugandas-elected-autocrat-museveni-elections/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">case in point</a> is Uganda’s <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-12421747" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yoweri Museveni</a> – a <a href="https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2016/06/03/uganda_on_the_brink_key_us_ally_for_african_security__109416.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">key African ally</a> in the war on terror.
And of the 16 African countries that <a href="https://www.irinnews.org/feature/2017/02/15/updated-rough-guide-foreign-military-bases-africa" target="_blank" rel="noopener">host US military presence</a>, 10 are <a href="https://freedomhouse.org/report/fiw-2017-table-country-scores" target="_blank" rel="noopener">categorised</a> by the US-based Freedom House as “not free”, four as “partly free” and only two as “free”.
Various reports this year indicate that armed forces in a number of countries that host a US military presence have abused civilians. <a href="https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/hrw-accuses-mali-burkina-troops-of-sweeping-rights-abuses-20170908" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Burkina Faso</a>, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2017/sep/27/tortured-abused-deported-cameroon-accused-of-driving-out-100000-nigerian-refugees-human-rights-watch" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cameroon</a>, <a href="https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/chad-blasts-un-report-on-troop-abuses-in-car-20170602" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Chad</a>, <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/03/09/us-stand-ethiopians-government-stifles-protests-jails-journalists" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ethiopia</a>, <a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/Candidates-should-address-abuses-/440808-4037576-55swdez/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kenya</a> and <a href="http://ewn.co.za/2017/05/15/ugandan-troops-committed-sexual-abuse-in-central-african-republic" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Uganda</a> are a few examples.
These sorts of situations have the potential to fuel fundamentalist backlash.
<a href="http://www.forbesafrica.com/current-affairs/2017/06/21/qatars-conflict-neighbours-can-set-horn-africa-alight/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">READ MORE: Qatar&#8217;s conflict with its neighbours can set the Horn of Africa alight</a>
<h2>Is America’s strategy working?</h2>
What is the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/25/world/africa/white-house-pushes-military-might-over-humanitarian-aid-in-africa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">efficacy of the US’s military presence</a> in Africa?
<a href="https://issafrica.org/about-us/press-releases/lessons-from-africa-on-terrorism" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Research</a> by the Institute for Security Studies suggests that <a href="https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-01-18-collateral-death-more-civilians-killed-in-nigerias-war-on-terror/#.WgSSz2iCw2w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">heavy-handed anti-terrorism strategies</a> breed insecurity by making fundamentalist organisations appear attractive to ordinary citizens. The exercise of what ordinary citizens perceive to be <a href="https://www.colorado.edu/conflict/peace/problem/illegit_force.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegitimate force</a>, on the part of state security institutions, increases the likelihood of those same citizens joining fundamentalist organisations.
But it seems these findings are being ignored. The danger is that if <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/25/world/africa/white-house-pushes-military-might-over-humanitarian-aid-in-africa.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">current patterns</a> encouraged by the US military persist, countries are likely to experience an increase in extremism. This in turn is likely to perpetuate the heavy-handedness of already illiberal regimes and the <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/10/old-wounds-deep-scars-us-intervention-africa-20131010101130448232.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">vicious cycle</a> of interventionism in Africa.
In the <a href="http://www2.ohchr.org/english/issues/terrorism/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">words</a> of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, &#8220;Our responses to terrorism, as well as our efforts to thwart it and prevent it, should uphold the human rights that terrorists aim to destroy.&#8221; &#8211; Written by <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/craig-bailie-369223" target="_blank" rel="author noopener">Craig Bailie</a>, Lecturer in Political Science (Mil), Stellenbosch University
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Tag: Niger

FORBES AFRICA SOCIAL MEDIA

17 Soldiers Killed in Niger Attack, Escalating Concerns Over Extremism

On The Frontline Of Hunger

Niger: a reminder of why the US military’s presence Africa needs constant scrutiny