Giving Trinkets
A delivery of equipment to Niger
Subtly is an art form that demands precision in both strategy and in action. It is best delivered with little or no notice then yields highly successful results.
Could this be the latest tactic used in the Sahel? It was just a few weeks ago when JNIM and allied militias launched an offensive that began with a decapacitation strike in Bamako that yielded mixed results followed by a coordinated series of attacks across Mali. The attacks were successful as the Afrika Corps withdrew from several locations in Northern Mali. However, the resilience of the Junta in Bamako so far has been impressive.
What about Niger? This is the member of the AES (Alliance of Sahelian States) that had the best Security partnership with the United States. At one point the U.S. was flying UAVs out of Base 201 monitoring Jihadist activities in West Africa. The calculus changed after the 2023 Military Coup which led to the withdrawal of the American Presence in Niger.
Fast forward three years. There has been a change of Administrations in Washington. And with that there is a change in strategies as well. In recent weeks the White House released a new Counterterrorism Strategy. One of the strategies mentioned in the document is the protection of Christians in Africa. BTW there are other places such as in Central Africa and Mozambique where this should take place, but I digress.
Another key plank in the strategy is to prevent the spread of Jihadism in Africa. So, on May 29th without much fanfare the U.S. delivered just over 2.3 million USD worth of Military Equipment to Niger. This amounted to nine boxes containing uniforms, protective clothing, and medicines.
Why the focus specifically towards Niger? One unnamed State Department Official who happens to work on the Sahel file was quoted stating ““We are focused on one thing: stopping the spread of terrorist networks that threaten American interests and regional stability,” There is no problem with that statement. The rising instability does present a challenge not only to the AES states but also Benin, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast are threatened as well.
We just saw a peaceful transfer of power in Benin Republic. In recent years Militants Groups have been targeting a Chinese owned pipeline transiting from Niger through Benin to Cotonou the capital where the oil is loaded onto tankers and sent to market. There is even a link between Niger and the Laukawara Militant Group that is operating in Northwestern Nigeria. This was the group that was the target of the U.S. Missile Strike on Christmas Day eve as well. So why does this all matter?
The same unnamed State Department Official opined even further: “Niger remains a critical partner in that effort, regardless of who sits in Niamey’s presidential palace.”
That being said, there is another concern. A Nigerian news outlet released an interesting report about an influence operation that is currently in operation. The goal is to use Hausa speaking journalists to discredit the current President of Nigeria Bola Tinubu who has been selected to seek another term as President of Nigeria in early 2027 and the activities of both France and the United States in the region.
This is not a new revelation. We saw after the 2023 Coup and the poorly executed response by President Tinubu in his role as chair of ECOWAS. We saw images of Russian Flags being flown in Northern Nigeria in support of the Niger Coup.
Clearly Niger is a partner that we have had good relationships within the past. However, their recent actions should cause someone to tap on the brakes for a second and see what the next viable steps should be.