An official of the West African bloc of nations says 11 countries in the region have agreed to commit troops to a military deployment aimed at restoring Niger’s democratically elected president following last month’s coup.
It’s great that West African nations are taking care of this themselves. It is a moment of empowerment.
They should take care of their own. Without interference from the outside. Neither from the West, nor Russia, nor China.
I assure you ecowas is being encouraged down this road by the us and France and will likely have the military aid of France who is pissed that the locals lightly attacked their embassy in Niger a few weeks ago
Perceptions matter. Even if the West is supplying the arms. It is still West Africans doing the deed.
It would be a colonial intervention if Western militaries invaded the country and deposed the junta. That would be a whole different situation. It wasn’t that long ago when Western powers would routinely do this. Or fund dictators to get rid of democratically elected officials. So, progress?
The difference is that the west outsourced the war to the Africans. It’s probably costs more than direct intervention but they get a compliant country that they can use for profits and whatever else, and none of the risk to human life. I wouldn’t call that progress, just neocolonialism
It’s great that West African nations are taking care of this themselves. It is a moment of empowerment. They should take care of their own. Without interference from the outside. Neither from the West, nor Russia, nor China.
I assure you ecowas is being encouraged down this road by the us and France and will likely have the military aid of France who is pissed that the locals lightly attacked their embassy in Niger a few weeks ago
Phrasing it as “lightly attacked” is playing down the risk to embassy staff, diplomats and their security detail.
If the attack was more successful we may have seen the embassy personnel murdered.
I only say lightly because it was an unorganized mob that was dispersed with tear gas, it wasn’t actual soldiers with gear and training thankfully
Perceptions matter. Even if the West is supplying the arms. It is still West Africans doing the deed.
It would be a colonial intervention if Western militaries invaded the country and deposed the junta. That would be a whole different situation. It wasn’t that long ago when Western powers would routinely do this. Or fund dictators to get rid of democratically elected officials. So, progress?
The difference is that the west outsourced the war to the Africans. It’s probably costs more than direct intervention but they get a compliant country that they can use for profits and whatever else, and none of the risk to human life. I wouldn’t call that progress, just neocolonialism
It’s nothing particularly new. ECOWAS intervened militarily in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea Bisseau as far back as the 1990s.
I remember when ECOMOG filled a similar role 25-30 years ago.
“Every Car Or Movable Object Gone”
African acronym shitposting is next-level.