By Arezki Daoud:
Russia’s influence in the Sahel is about to expand further with more cooperation deals announced by Niger and Russia during the ongoing visit to Moscow of Niger’s Prime Minister and other senior officials. Speaking to Russian media, Niger’s Defense Minister Salifou Mody said joint projects are being finalized during the visit, following months of preparation and negotiation in Niamey. Mody even hinted on an increase presence of Russian assets as being part of a cooperation plan tying the two countries.
The Russian progress in the Sahel is an unpleasant news for Washington. While Niamey and other Sahelian nations are working to diminish the French presence in the region, the US came out somewhat unscathed by the wave of anti-western sentiment there. This is largely because the US has had a minimal approach to this part of the world, keeping itself clean and clear of trouble, and counting on France to police and oversee the region, which as we know by now, things ended badly. Meanwhile the US diplomatic resources have been almost exclusively consumed by the Middle East crises, Eastern Europe and to a certain extent Asia. So, Africa remains a low priority for the Biden administration, and will likely remain so during this difficult election year in the United States.
Still, Washington maintains a drone base in the north of Niger, and it is trying to have more civilian-focused engagements, albeit symbolic in their impact and at very minimal cost to US taxpayers. For instance, this week, the US government donated medical equipment and materials to two maternity wards in Niamey, the capital of Niger, for a total value of just about $9,000. The tiny donation, though welcome of course, includes such things as hospital beds, scales for babies and adults, electronic blood pressure monitors, screens, gloves, thermometers, and rechargeable lamps.
Will these low-cost gestures of good will be sufficient to convince government bosses in Niger to stay clear from Russia? Unlikely as Washington still has no clear engagement policy with Africa, creating strong opportunities for Russia and China to up their own engagements there.
