The French president’s comments came as western powers scrambled to preserve a key ally in a region that has been destabilised by jihadist insurgencies, coups, and interventions by the Wagner mercenary group as Russian flags appeared at prominent sites around Niger’s capital, Niamey.
Macron, who was visiting Papua New Guinea, called for the release of the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, and said: “This coup is completely illegitimate and profoundly dangerous, for Nigeriens, for Niger and for the whole region.”
Yes, this is true.
Before this, the West was involved in violence in the Sahel during “Operation Serval” in the 2010s.
Before that, it was the “Global War On Terror” in the 2000s.
Before even this, there were things like “Operation Epervier” in the 1980s, and before that the “stabilisation forces” after Independence in the 1960s and 1970s.
And of course before those there were the Colonial forces during colonial occupation.
And before that, the wars of European conquest in the 19th century…
Ah yes, ofcourse, the colonialism and “because of The West” argument. I was hoping for a more balanced conversation, my bad.
What argument??? I’m agreeing with you.
I agree. I mean since you seem upset by mentions of colonialism we can go back even further, to the Sahelian Kingdoms if you like.
But I think it would be a stretch to suggest that there is much continuity between those conflicts and what is happening now, except in the matter of the farmers/nomads conflicts.
These have existed for centuries, but are made worse by displacement and increased resource competition.
I’m not sure why you brought up the region’s past if you didn’t want to talk about it.
Allright, I guess that we agree that
The usage of “this” and "that ", could have lead to some misinterprations. I was indeed refering to the older (and still relevant) history in the region, like the one you mentioned in your latest comment, eg. droughts, farmers & nomads.
Concerning colonialism, most countries have been colonies or subject to one or another empire. It is only in more recent times, that we have created & accepted the idea of independent states on an international level. Unfortunately, some nations or movements, disregard this notion and create chaos and undermine (fragile) stability.