Prigozhin is going to Africa

Prigozhin died in an airplane crash recently. His exploits in Africa still are important.

"The head of Niger's presidential guard declared himself the leader of a new junta August 28-th, 2023 after deposing a president who was a key ally to the U.S. in the fight against extremism.

Meanwhile, in a sign that Russia could seek to exploit the turmoil in Niger, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russian paramilitary group Wagner, hailed the coup plotters.

The military coup against democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum threatens to disrupt the U.S. strategy for fighting Islamist militants as they expand across western Africa.

In an address on state television, Gen. Abdourahamane Tiani, the commander of the presidential guard in Niger, said he was in charge of a junta of military officers that removed Bazoum this week.

Tiani cited setbacks in the country's counterterrorism efforts to justify Bazoum's removal. "We can't continue with the same approach without witnessing the gradual disappearance of our country," he said. But people briefed on the coup said Tiani initially took the president hostage early Wednesday at his residence after a dispute over Bazoum's plans to dismiss him and reduce benefits to his soldiers. That dispute escalated into an attempted coup, they said.

Key generals later sided with the presidential guard, saying they wanted to avoid bloodshed. But it was unclear until now who was heading the new junta, and the situation remained fluid.

Bazoum has refused to resign and has been speaking to Western diplomats from his residence, say people briefed on his situation.

Meanwhile, the army generals who removed him are still squabbling over who ultimately would run the country and whether or not they should ally with Russia or its mercenaries, say the people. "There is still a ray of hope" the president could be reinstated, said a person close to him.

Western security circles fear the coup against Bazoum, who got large-scale military and economic support from the U.S. and France, potentially could hand Russia a strategic advantage as Moscow tries to widen its influence in the region.

Late Thursday, Prigozhin, who was behind a failed rebellion against Russia's army command last month, hailed the coup in Niger. Following the unsuccessful mutiny at home, Prigozhin has said he wanted to focus on Wagner's operations in Africa.

Wagner fighters have gained a foothold in four nations on the continent, including Mali, and are trying to enter Burkina Faso and Chad, three of Niger's neighbors. Western officials have said there is no evidence Russia -- which has condemned the plotters -- or Wagner were involved in the coup.

Bazoum, who was elected in 2021, was an ally in a U.S. campaign to take on al Qaeda and Islamic State. Niger hosts U.S. drones and American commandos, who have trained Nigerien special forces and advised them during combat missions against the insurgents.

The junta has faced international condemnation, including from regional power Nigeria, France, the former colonial power, and the U.S. French President Emmanuel Macron said sanctions should be imposed on the junta when the Economic Community of West African States, to which Niger belongs, meets Sunday." [1]

 Prigozhin is going to Africa? We should quickly close the borders of Lithuania with Russia and Belarus, since we, Lithuanians, are as poor as Africans, and Prigozhin can make an easy mistake... Just look at our stinky outdoor toilets.

1. World News: Niger General Declares Himself Leader --- African nations, West consider how to respond to the ouster of the president. Faucon, Benoit. 
Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]. 29 July 2023: A.7.