Blinken Visits Niger as Biden Moves to Counter China and Russia in Africa

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Niger and Ethiopia as a part of the Biden administration’s rising competitors with China and Russia for affect throughout Africa. Niger has change into a vital U.S. ally within the Sahel area, and the U.S. opened a brand new drone base within the metropolis of Agadez in 2019. The U.S. has about 800 army personnel in Niger, and Blinken’s journey marks the primary go to to the nation by a U.S. secretary of state. “Niger is likely one of the final strongholds of U.S. safety partnerships within the area,” says Stephanie Savell, co-director of the Prices of Battle Mission at Brown College, who has researched U.S. militarism in West Africa and past. We additionally converse with author and activist Coumba Toure, chair of the board for TrustAfrica and an envoy for Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace and Dignity. “Africa must be checked out as a continent the place there are human beings, not only for energy features and for exploitation,” says Toure.

TRANSCRIPT

This can be a rush transcript. Copy might not be in its remaining type.

AMY GOODMAN: Antony Blinken has arrived in Niger, changing into the primary U.S. secretary of state to ever go to the previous French colony. Blinken’s go to comes as the US is overtly vying with China and Russia for affect throughout Africa.

Niger has change into a vital U.S. ally within the Sahel area, which has seen latest army coups in Mali and Burkina Faso. In 2019, the U.S. opened a brand new drone base within the capital of Agadez. The U.S. additionally has about 800 army personnel in Niger. The U.S. army presence in Niger made headlines in 2017 when 4 U.S. particular forces and 5 troopers from Niger have been killed in an ambush.

Niger additionally stays one of many poorest nations on this planet. Within the United Nations Improvement Program’s most up-to-date Human Improvement Index, Niger ranks 189th of 191 international locations, with solely neighboring Chad and close by newly shaped, war-ravaged South Sudan under it. Eighty % of Niger lies inside the Sahara Desert. Life expectancy is simply 60 years previous, and the imply training degree for its 25 million residents is simply two years.

Secretary of State Blinken arrived in Niger after a visit to Ethiopia, which we’ll speak about later in this system. However we’ll start now with two company. Right here in New York, Stephanie Savell is with us, a co-director of Prices of Battle Mission at Brown College’s Watson Institute for Worldwide and Public Affairs. She’s an anthropologist who has researched U.S. militarism in West Africa and past. She only recently returned from Niger. We’re additionally joined by Coumba Toure. She is chair of the board for TrustAfrica and an envoy for Africans Rising for Unity, Justice, Peace and Dignity, a author and activist based mostly in Senegal however is becoming a member of us from Washington.

We welcome you each to Democracy Now! Let’s start with Stephanie Savell. If you can begin off by speaking about Niger proper now, why you imagine the secretary of state, within the first secretary state go to to Niger, is there? What’s the U.S. curiosity in Niger?

STEPHANIE SAVELL: Yeah, it is a actually vital go to. It’s a vital second. France has only recently pulled out of neighboring Burkina Faso, so it’s a second when Western powers are sort of determining what the following steps are within the area.

Niger is likely one of the final strongholds of U.S. safety partnerships within the area, which is more and more spiraling into violence and chaos, led by a few of militant teams affiliated with al-Qaeda and ISIS. And the U.S. sees Niger as one in all its strongest allies on this area, which the U.S. positions as actually one of many newest fronts within the ongoing post-9/11 wars, which George W. Bush known as the battle on terror. Opposite to what many People suppose, this battle is ongoing, and this is likely one of the newest fronts. And this go to to Niger can be a sign of, partially, how necessary strategically Niger is for the US.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: Stephanie, might you clarify the context of this? How is it that not simply Niger however the broader Sahel area turned such a spotlight for the U.S., and why the worldwide battle on terror now seems to be concentrated there, with a lot of terrorist incidents? In line with the World Terrorism Index, virtually 50% of all terrorist — terrorism-related deaths occurred within the Sahel area final 12 months.

STEPHANIE SAVELL: That’s proper. Yeah, the area started sort of spiraling into cycles of violence in 2012 — actually in 2012, though somewhat bit earlier than then. When Mali was politically destabilized within the north, rebels that have been previously preventing for Gaddafi in Libya looted his weapons shares and got here down into Mali, the place there was a separatist motion. And this has led to sort of this spiraling cycle during which these militant teams have been gaining floor.

Governments within the area, aided by U.S. coaching help, funding, gear, have been actually waging their very own wars on terror. And this, the government-sponsored violence, has been one of many elements that’s contributed to those intensifying spirals of violence. So, individuals — it’s, you understand, blowback, proper? So, plenty of recruitment to those militant teams is coming in retaliation towards authorities forces, that in some circumstances are indiscriminately concentrating on sure ethnic teams. And so, it’s actually one in all these conditions the place there’s plenty of poverty, there’s plenty of corruption. Individuals really feel deserted by the central governments. The federal government is responding with drive, and these conditions are simply getting worse and worse.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: Coumba Toure, when you might additionally reply to Secretary of State Blinken’s go to to Niger and to the area, the primary of a secretary of state, an American secretary of state, to the area? The importance of the go to, and what you want to see come out of it?

COUMBA TOURE: Thanks a lot for having me right here.

The very first thing that I might say is that there’s undoubtedly a shift that’s wanted in relationship between the U.S. and African international locations. And I see that, you understand, with this go to and earlier than, the assembly the place the totally different leaders of African international locations have been invited right here within the U.S. That’s clearly the place we’re going.

However the reality is, on this area, everybody comes for their very own pursuits, and the U.S. included. Individuals are there for, you understand, the pure sources. Individuals are there for political affect, and totally different nations elbowing one another for energy with whole disregard to the individuals who dwell on these land. I imagine for a brand new relationship to essentially form, Africa must be checked out as a continent the place there are human beings, not only a place the place, you understand, it’s for energy achieve and for exploitation.

AMY GOODMAN: Coumba Toure, when you can discuss concerning the points which are being confronted by the continent, the way you see the Ukraine battle affecting them, points from power transition to world well being, and the way this go to by the secretary of state of the US is considered round Africa?

COUMBA TOURE: Yeah, I might say that most individuals on the continent are usually not instantly linked to this go to. You understand, the U.S. secretary of state is assembly with a sure degree — it’s high-level conferences, and it’s assembly with, more often than not, management that even individuals on the continent don’t all the time join with or acknowledge as such. Most individuals are deserted by their governments, and so they determine their lives for themselves. And we’re but to see a sort of cooperation or reference to African individuals that basically profit Africans, that take a look at individuals’s well being, that take a look at their training, that take a look at what individuals want when it comes to mobility. What’s talked about is about battle, about arms, about coaching army. And that’s not the basic want of the individuals.

And, sure, proper now with the battle in Ukraine, that is also one other energy — I wish to say, energy recreation occurring, as a result of the reality is correct now the U.S. and the EU are taking a look at African international locations to align themselves, you understand, towards Russia, which a few of these international locations are hesitant of doing, as a result of, you understand, for South Africa, for instance, having acquired help, you understand, the ANC, earlier than, they for now are actually talking in a impartial tone. And there are different international locations additionally on the continent that aren’t as fast as leaping simply in saying sure to regardless of the U.S. and the EU is saying.

So, proper now I feel that this go to is extra about, actually, inserting the U.S. in entrance of different powers, whether or not it’s China, Russia, Turkey, Japan. Everybody has now a gathering or arrange one thing to deliver African leaders to be with them.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: Stephanie, when you might reply to what Coumba stated? Particularly, discuss concerning the totally different international locations which are vying for affect within the Sahel area, and in addition the proliferation of small arms throughout the area, the rise in smuggling, trafficking of small arms, and whose fingers these arms are falling into, the assorted armed teams which are preventing within the area now, and the position of the U.S.

STEPHANIE SAVELL: Proper. So, there are many international locations within the West African Sahel area who’re concerned in coaching Nigerien forces and offering what they name safety help — the Germans and French and Italians. There are additionally considerations concerning the Russian Wagner Group that’s spreading in affect, notably in Mali, and there are rumors that it is likely to be gaining somewhat little bit of affect in Burkina Faso. And so they’ve been accused of committing atrocities within the Malian battle on terror.

So, it’s actually stunning. After I was within the airport in Niamey, which is the capital of Niger, and Agadez, which is, as you talked about, the place the U.S. drone base is predicated, some a whole lot of miles into the desert to the north, you see — you understand, you see foreigners round. There’s only a very — I’ve been working in West Africa for 20 years, and I’ve by no means seen so many sort of Western army sorts, contractors and issues. The U.S. says it has about 800 troopers posted in Niger, however that doesn’t convey in any respect the sort of numbers of contractors who’re coming in to do trainings and the numbers of particular forces operations, just like the people who find themselves coming out and in. So it’s actually a major operation. It’s vital for different international locations, as effectively, Germany included and others.

And this area, as you have been mentioning, has change into a hub for illicit trafficking, not simply of small arms but in addition medicine and other people. There’s an enormous migrant smuggling route within the desert of Niger. So, it’s a central level within the desert. You may image Agadez, the place we have been, was this — for a whole lot of years has been this buying and selling put up between coastal West Africa and the desert to the north. And so, it’s been actually necessary on commerce routes for hundreds of years. And now plenty of what’s occurring is that these militant teams, who’re saying that they’re affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda, are — basically, lots of people are saying, you understand, these guys are bandits. They’re criminals who’re sort of donning the mantle of this, you understand, so-called terrorism to smuggle these items and revenue.

AMY GOODMAN: I wished to ask you, Professor Savell — in a second we’re going to be speaking about this twentieth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, which actually started with the Bush administration going after Niger — or, reasonably, going after Saddam Hussein, saying he obtained uranium from Niger. That’s how Niger got here into the consciousness of so many People. It was a false declare. The late Joe Wilson was despatched there to analyze. He stated it was false. However speak about how the U.S. has used Niger over time and what impact that had, even 20 years later.

STEPHANIE SAVELL: Yeah, the U.S. started — you understand, I feel it’s necessary to situate U.S. actions in Niger. Significantly within the wake of 9/11, the Sahel area turned a sort of hidden and never, you understand, main focus of U.S. counterterrorism actions. So, there was the Pan-Sahel Initiative, that turned the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership. And that began proper after, in 2002, 2003, 2004. And since all these years, the U.S. has simply been channeling plenty of gear and cash for army operations.

Even again earlier than this area had a lot of a terrorist menace in any respect, this was what this cohort within the Bush administration — they have been performing based on the doctrine of preemptive battle, whereby, you understand, the slightest risk of a terror assault warranted any sort of preventative motion. We noticed that occuring everywhere in the world. So this is only one area. And you’ll — I’ve a map that I’ve put collectively of all of the locations — there’s about 85 international locations on this planet the place the U.S. has engaged in some form of counterterrorism exercise.

And my analysis within the West African Sahel was actually sort of asking, “Properly, what does it imply? How will we zoom in to this type of information level on this map? And although it’s a sort of a drop within the bucket when it comes to the large Pentagon spending on counterterrorism, what does this imply for these international locations?”

And so, a rustic like Niger is getting tens of millions of {dollars} a 12 months in safety help from the U.S., and that’s actually vital. And what that’s achieved is it’s created this framework that the suitable strategy to battle the issue of terror assaults is with a battle. Traditionally, analysis exhibits that there’s plenty of different methods to handle — for governments to handle the issue of terror assaults. You may deal with it as a policing downside. You may deal with it as a matter of political negotiation, so incorporating militants into the reputable political sphere, addressing the roots of individuals’s grievances — primarily the truth that persons are needing jobs, they’re needing to eat, they’re simply livid at corruption, they’re livid at sort of being ignored by authorities coverage. All of these things is driving the unrest.

And when you deal with that as a battle downside and also you ship troopers in and also you begin indiscriminately attacking sure teams of individuals — as a result of, once more, identical to in different components of the world, we’re seeing sure teams of people that already bear the brunt of prejudice. So, notably just like the Fulani ethnic group, which are historically herders throughout West Africa, and Muslim for hundreds of years, they’re bearing the brunt of plenty of authorities insurance policies throughout the area. So, we’re seeing this battle on terror, the implications of this mentality, that has been launched and supported with all this cash and weapons and political rhetoric over time — we’re seeing the implications of that play out.

NERMEEN SHAIKH: Coumba, you spoke earlier concerning the totally different international locations which are within the area, within the Sahel area, due to the sources within the area. So, when you might clarify what these sources are — power reserves, gold, and so forth. — and in addition the impression of the local weather disaster within the Sahel area, which is reportedly heating at one-and-a-half occasions the speed of the worldwide common?

COUMBA TOURE: Sure. You understand, if we begin with Niger, it’s uranium. The problem is uranium. Why are — you understand, why is all people so thinking about a small nation that’s desertic? It’s not as a result of there may be — you understand, there may be love there. The problem is all the time about sources, and it all the time has been for the entire African continent. And it’s not one thing new. You’re taking it again all the way in which, you understand, from slavery to colonization to at the present time. Nations of the Western Hemisphere, whether or not it’s Europe, U.S., Canada, individuals — these international locations have come to Africa for the sources. And right now, the primary sources that persons are taking a look at are energetic sources. It’s mineral sources, in fact, for arms, for expertise and for power.

However what I actually wish to convey is that it’s about time that we take a look at the lives of individuals, that cooperation is about supporting, you understand, small farmers to supply meals that helps individuals dwell wholesome lives. It’s about taking a look at well being programs — not, in fact, supporting Large Pharmaceutical, however taking a look at well being programs that truly touches individuals. And if we actually wish to construct peace, it’s not about arming and rearming as a lot as potential individuals and excluding nearly all of inhabitants.

We want totally different relationships between our international locations and the U.S. And it will likely be — a part of it wants to come back by individuals to individuals. I’m right here touring within the U.S., simply got here from Selma, Alabama, that has been tornado-struck. However for 30 years, there’s been connection between common individuals in West Africa and other people within the U.S., primarily from the African American communities. We have to get on the backside of this. Relationships begin with respect. And, you understand, the world has been performing on white supremacy, valuing white life, valuing individuals’s life, and in addition valuing the truth that accumulation and revenue is the decision of the day, is what must be achieved. And we have to change that.

AMY GOODMAN: Coumba Toure, we wish to thanks a lot for being with us, chair of the board for TrustAfrica, ambassador for Africans Rising, a author and activist based mostly in Senegal, right here in the US. Stephanie Savell is a co-director of the Prices of Battle Mission at Brown College’s Watson Institute for Worldwide and Public Affairs. She’s an anthropologist who has researched U.S. militarism in West Africa and past, simply again from Niger.

Subsequent up, we take a look at the state of affairs in Ethiopia 4 months after the peace deal was signed to finish two years of battle in Tigray, and simply after Secretary of State Blinken has left there. Stick with us.