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.
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
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