What is happening in Niger?

The first question that may be on people’s minds (it was on mine) is where is Niger. Here goes …

My next task is to give two definitions, since the terms (ECOWAS and Sahel) kept cropping up in the resources I checked out (which I will give out at the end). Once again, I look to Wikipedia for help, in the knowledge that, while a good starter of ten, its controllers are often not friends of folk who think like me:

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS; also known as CEDEAO in French and Portuguese) is a regional political and economic union of fifteen countries located in West Africa. Collectively, these countries comprise an area of 5,114,162 km (1,974,589 sq mi), and in 2019 had an estimated population of over 387 million. Considered one of the pillar regional blocs of the continent-wide African Economic Community (AEC), the stated goal of ECOWAS is to achieve “collective self-sufficiency” for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc by building a full economic and trading union.

The union was established on 28 May 1975, with the signing of the Treaty of Lagos, with its stated mission to promote economic integration across the region. A revised version of the treaty was agreed and signed on 24 July 1993 in Cotonou. ECOWAS also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region, with member states occasionally sending joint military forces to intervene in the bloc’s member countries at times of political instability and unrest. (The 15 countries included in ECOWAS are: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo).

The Sahel is a region in Africa. It is defined as the ecoclimatic and biogeographic realm of transition between the Sahara to the north and the Sudanian savanna to the south. Having a hot semi-arid climate, it stretches across the south-central latitudes of Northern Africa between the Atlantic Ocean and the Red Sea. The Sahel part of Africa includes – from west to east – parts of northern Senegal, southern Mauritania, central Mali, northern Burkina Faso, the extreme south of Algeria, southern Niger, the extreme north of Nigeria, Cameroon and Central African Republic, central Chad, central and southern Sudan, the extreme north of South Sudan, Eritrea, and the extreme north of Ethiopia.

While we are into trying to understand terms that crop up when we read and watch reports about what is happening in Niger, here is another: the Wagner group, which Wikipedia, here showing its credentials when calling out those they are ideologically opposed to as being far-right extremists, tells us is “a Russian state-funded private military company (PMC) controlled by Yevgeny Prigozhin, a former close ally of Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia. The Wagner Group has used Russian Armed Forces infrastructure. While the group is not ideologically driven, elements of Wagner are linked to neo-Nazism and far-right extremism. Evidence suggests that Wagner has been used as a proxy by the Russian government, allowing the Russian state to have plausible deniability for military operations abroad, and thereby hiding the true casualties of Russia’s foreign interventions”.

Having got that off my chest, why Niger? While it is true mainstream media is not something I am particularly into checking out these days, Niger I suspect is not one of its lead stories, other than a passing mention there has been a coup (so what one may ask, and not a surprise as Africa has had many in the past, including two recently in its neighbours: Mali and Burkina Faso) and that the western alliances, led by the USA and France (Niger was once a French colony) are not too keen on what has happened (their narrative being pushed by the likes of the BBC it seems). Looking on, showing an interest even if not directly involved, is Russia and the part that might have been played by Wagner group. Then there are the nearby African nations and their leaders, and the people, supporting or opposing the coup, even to the extent of threatening direct involvement (two quite contrasting line ups).

But as I often comment in my forays into the blogosphere – the Lord works in mysterious ways and is why many of my blogs are not pre-planned. Firstly, I shared a rather salutary meme (see above) that particularly struck me on my Facebook page that in effect is saying the West has been exploiting Africa ever since it has stepped foot into the continent. Secondly, soon after, I read about the recent coup in Niger in the Alternative Media that, unlike Mainstream Media, appeared to put a positive spin on what happened. Thirdly, one of the chapters I recently wrote for my forthcoming Priests of the Bible book is titled: “Bible prophecy and current events” where I reflect on how nations these days line up in the light of the Ukraine (and others) conflicts, with pro Russia sentiment as Russia show an interest in Niger to match that of the Americans.

Talking about getting off my chest … in 2011, I was commissioned to write a report, which I titled: “Southend’s Faith and African Communities” (see here). I mentioned, I had met people living in Southend whose origins were from 23 of the 54 African nations … but no-one I am aware of from Niger. Then we have a chap from our church that often posts items of prayer, usually relating to trouble spots around the world, of which there are many. For example, his latest is: “PRAY FOR PEACE AND STABILITY IN Sudan and the surrounding nations in the wake of the conflict that broke out in April. PRAY that diplomatic relations will be restored in the region, and for a return to talks aimed at restoring peaceful civilian rule. PRAY FOR THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE displaced by the conflict. ASK GOD to protect and equip aid organisations working to provide people with food, water and shelter”. With reference to our map, Sudan is a near neighbour to Niger and part of the Sahel region. I am also mindful of the pressures faced by Christians in Niger and its neighbours due to attacks by Islamist terrorists.

Before I get going, I need to make a confession. While I probably know more than most when it comes to what is happening in Africa, I still know very little, recognising in order to get a fuller understanding I need to dig deep rather than take the word of self-appointed “experts”. But then I am a watchman, and part of a watchman’s duties is to warn people even if they do not listen. Besides seeing what goes on in Africa as a vital piece of the jigsaw and component in the global game of chess we are seeing being played out, on top of being righteously indignant that the controlling powers of the West have been screwing Africa ever since it found Africa was rich in resources they wanted with the consequence of Africa supposedly breaking free from the shackles of its controllers from the West is that they have been largely ruled by corrupt entities that have been brought and paid for, often by stealth, bribes and threats, by their western paymasters.

When Libya’s Muammar Gaddafi gave the proverbial two fingers to said powers, by making its money system not dependent on the US dollar, among other things, he was portrayed as the bad guy by the often referred to (in my blogs) Unholy Trinity (media, politicians, elites) and was taken out, with the lemmings who believed them thinking this was a good thing. Pertinent is the global financial reset underway with African nations ditching the fiat based (i.e. not backed by a physical commodity, such as gold or silver) US dollar in favour of one that is asset based as favoured by the Russians.

Before I get going with stuff that has particularly struck me as pertinent while checking out my sources, especially coming from the lips of those who know what they are talking about who interestingly but not surprisingly usually do NOT echo the official line, let me first nail my colours to the mast as to what really interests me in what is going on in Niger. This concerns the state of Christians and the church in that land. This video, title “Niger Persecution” is particularly poignant and powerful. Besides bringing out important prayer points, it begged the questions what the USA with its drone bases meant to weed out terrorists and France with its interest in Niger’s Uranium resources have done about it (the answer appears very little) and what the new regime is going to do about it, if anything, which brings me back to my mysterious working God.

One aspect of interest is the part played by (not one of the good guys) Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States, given her role in the Ukraine affair and that of bringing in ensuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy became president of Ukraine in 2019 and propping up that corrupt regime. As I can make out she was given short shrift by those newly installed in power despite her threats and bribes. Then there is the hilarious (if it wasn’t so serious) put down of France’s President Emmanuel Macron by Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (no doubt endorsed by France’s wannabe president Marine Le Pen). Part of Meloni’s argument is the immigration crisis France is now facing is a direct result of French policy to screw Niger such that its common folk become impoverished and seek to emigrate. While I would like to give a synopsis of every source I referred to, my current writing project: “Priests of the Bible” beckons and, before anyone asks, what I am considering there does relate to the Niger coup.

I like to end with a list of references (see below) all currently available on the Internet, along with links, all of which having played a part in informing this post. While an elaboration may be desirable, time, energy and mental capacity are all reasons why I am not going to add further to the discussion than I have. These are from various sources, including the BBC, and come with my standard “test and weigh” caveat. There is a lot more of course for people wanting to know more. Typing “Niger” in the search bar for Bitchute and Rumble and sorting by date starting with the most recent worked for me and of course people can still do the same with mainstream news sources. I should add, I am not on anyone’s side: not France, not the USA, not Russia, not General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the coup leader (see below), but rather God’s side and supporting the principles of truth, justice and righteousness.

Back to my screw you Africa meme, my reading of history is attitudes like what we have been seeing with respect to Africa invariably have consequences. Even if we don’t see them in our lifetimes, we know true justice will be served on Judgement Day. If there is a final word of wisdom to pass onto readers, it is do not ignore Africa when trying to come to terms with what is currently taking place on Planet Earth. Also pertinent is God’s perspective, concerning which I remind folk of the words of Psalm 2.

1. Niger coup: Junta shuts airspace citing military intervention threat
2. Niger’s New Government Wants U.S. Troops Out! 8-6-23 The Jimmy Dore Show
3. Bloody Attack On Artemovsk | Wagner Controls The Situation In Niger.
4. Niger coup: Alex Vines outlines ‘high stakes’ for war in West Africa
5. Niger Persecution 2.0
6. Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni Goes Viral Again After Niger Coup
7. Why The United States and France Want To Invade Niger… and Much More
8. BOMBSHELL! Russian Forces TAKING OVER Niger!!!
9. Niger coup: Wagner taking advantage of instability – Antony Blinken
10. Niger coup: Simple guide to what’s happening
11. RT News – August 08 2023 (09:00 MSK)
12. The Africa Coup – Niger Awakens
13. VICTORIA ‘F— THE EU’ NULAND FINDS A COLD SHOULDER IN NIGER [2023-08-08]
14. Niger’s coup leader General Tchiani: The ex-UN peacekeeper who seized power
15. MARINE LE PEN ROASTS THE FRENCH PRIME MINISTER FOR THE CHAOS HER POLICIES HAVE CAUSED