West losing ground in West Africa and the Sahel | DW News
Summary
TLDRGermany's military withdrawal from Niger marks a significant shift in Western presence in West Africa. The Bundeswehr's mission, which began in 2016 to support UN operations in Mali and train Nigerien forces, has ended due to a coup in 2023. This coup led to a realignment towards non-Western allies, particularly Russia, for support. The withdrawal is part of a broader trend of Western nations losing influence in the region, with implications for counter-terrorism efforts and regional stability. Russia is seen as filling the vacuum, deepening security ties and benefiting from the region's mineral resources.
Takeaways
- 🇩🇪 Germany's armed forces are withdrawing from Niger due to the breakdown of negotiations.
- 🔄 Niger was a strategic base for Western nations combating terrorism in the Sahel region.
- 👮♂️ Approximately 100 German troops were stationed in Niger to train local forces.
- 🤝 Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Niger in 2022 to discuss progress and cooperation.
- 🏢 The coup in Niger in 2023 led to a shift in the country's alliances, affecting Western operations.
- 📉 The German military's mission in Niger was primarily logistical support and training.
- ⏳ The contract allowing German troops to operate in Niger expired, and renegotiation is not feasible.
- 🤷♂️ The West's presence in West Africa is diminishing, with implications for regional stability.
- 🔄 The power vacuum left by Western withdrawal is being filled by Russia, which is deepening ties with the region.
- 💔 The withdrawal indicates a failure of Germany's Sahel policy to achieve its objectives of stability and counter-terrorism.
Q & A
Why are Germany's armed forces withdrawing from Niger?
-Germany's armed forces are withdrawing due to the breakdown of negotiations and a military coup in Niger in 2023, which has led to a shift in the country's alliances towards non-Western countries, particularly Russia.
What was the primary mission of the German military in Niger?
-The primary mission was to provide logistic support for operations in neighboring Mali, especially for the United Nations MINUSMA stabilization mission. Later, it served as an evacuation pathway for Western troops and had some cooperation and training roles in Niger itself.
Why did the cooperation between Germany and Niger fall apart?
-The cooperation fell apart due to the military coup in Niger in 2023, which led to a significant change in the country's political landscape and a shift towards non-Western allies, making it difficult for Western countries to operate there.
How has the military coup in Niger affected Western presence in the region?
-The coup has led to the withdrawal or expulsion of Western forces, including the French and the United States military, from the region, leading to a vacuum that has been filled by Russia.
What are the implications of Germany's withdrawal from Niger for the Sahel region?
-The withdrawal has contributed to the destabilization of the region, leading to a split among neighboring countries into groups backed by Russia and those remaining in the Western camp, potentially escalating tensions and conflicts.
How is Russia benefiting from the West's withdrawal from West Africa?
-Russia is deepening security ties with countries in the region, providing security for their elites, and joining forces to fight terrorism and separatist groups. Additionally, Russia stands to benefit from the region's mineral resources as it deepens its partnerships.
What was the initial purpose of the German supply base in Niger?
-The German supply base in Niger was initially set up to provide logistic support for German operations in neighboring Mali, particularly in support of the United Nations MINUSMA mission.
What has been the impact of the coup in Niger on the country's relations with Western countries?
-The coup has led to a deterioration of relations with Western countries, as Niger's military government has looked towards non-Western allies, particularly Russia, for support, making it difficult for Western countries to maintain their presence and influence.
What role did Chancellor Olaf Schultz play in Germany's engagement with Niger?
-Chancellor Olaf Schultz traveled to Niger in 2022 to monitor progress and hold talks with the president, indicating a period of active engagement between Germany and Niger before the coup and subsequent withdrawal.
How has the situation in Niger affected Germany's Sahel policy?
-The situation in Niger has raised questions about the effectiveness of Germany's Sahel policy, as the limited military presence has not yielded significant benefits on the ground, and there has been a shift towards Russia and instability in the region.
What will be the ongoing German contributions to the region despite the military withdrawal?
-Despite the military withdrawal, Germany will continue to provide development assistance, medical support, and legal training, which are part of the long-term efforts to build better relationships across the region.
Outlines
🏆 Germany's Military Withdrawal from Niger
Germany's armed forces are withdrawing from Niger due to the breakdown of negotiations and a military coup in 2023. Niger, located in West Africa, was a strategic base for Western nations combating terrorism in the Sahel region. Approximately 100 German troops were stationed there, with a mission to train Nigerien forces. Chancellor Olaf Schultz visited Niger in 2022 to oversee progress and engage in talks with the president. However, the coup led to a shift in the political landscape, making it difficult for Western countries to operate in Niger. The military government has turned towards non-Western allies, particularly Russia, for support. This withdrawal is part of a broader trend of the West losing influence in West Africa and the Sahel, leading to a vacuum being filled by Russia, which is deepening its security ties with the region.
🌍 West Africa's Geopolitical Shift and Russia's Influence
The withdrawal of Western forces from Niger is symptomatic of a larger geopolitical shift in West Africa, where the West is losing ground. The coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have destabilized the region, leading to the departure of Western forces and the subsequent filling of the vacuum by Russia. This has resulted in a souring of diplomatic relations between neighboring countries, with some aligning with Russia and others remaining in the Western camp. The situation has led to the formation of new alliances, such as the body Echas, where Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have left to form their own group. The threat of military intervention by ECOWAS into Niger has also been discussed. Russia is seen as benefiting from this shift, not only in terms of security ties but also economically, with the region being rich in mineral resources such as gold.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Bundeswehr
💡Niger
💡Sahel
💡Olaf Scholz
💡Military Coup
💡Counter-terrorism
💡Logistic Support
💡United Nations MINUSMA
💡Evacuation Pathway
💡Nonwestern Allies
Highlights
Germany's armed forces are withdrawing from Niger due to the breakdown of negotiations with the ruling junta.
Niger was a key base for Western Nations in efforts to contain terrorism in the Sahel region.
Approximately 100 German troops were stationed in Niger to train local forces.
Chancellor Olaf Schultz visited Niger in 2022 to monitor progress and hold talks with the president.
Cooperation with Niger fell apart after the country's army seized control in a coup in 2023.
The Bundeswehr's mission in Niger began in 2016 to provide logistic support for operations in Mali.
The German base in Niger was used as an evacuation pathway for Western troops out of Mali.
The agreement allowing German troops to operate in Niger expires at the end of August.
The military coup in Niger in 2023 led to a significant change in the country's relations with Western countries.
The military government in Niger is now looking towards non-Western allies, particularly Russia, for support.
The withdrawal of Western forces from Niger is part of a wider trend of the West losing ground in West Africa.
The coups in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have destabilized the region and led to a realignment of alliances.
Russia is deepening security ties with countries in the region, providing security for the junta elites.
The Sahel region is an epicenter of global terrorism, with groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda operating there.
Russia is benefiting from the vacuum left by Western countries, as it deepens partnerships in the region.
Germany's Sahel policy may be seen as failing, with Islamist insurgencies continuing and a swing towards Russia.
Germany will continue development assistance and limited technical support in the region.
Transcripts
Germany's armed forces are withdrawing
their troops fully from ner negotiations
with the ruling hun broke down earlier
this year ner which is in West Africa
was a key base for Western Nations
trying to contain terrorism in the Sahel
around 100 German troops had been
stationed there and established a
mission to train nerian forces
Chancellor Olaf Schultz traveled to ner
in 2022 to monitor progress and to hold
talks with the president but the
cooperation fell apart when nier's Army
seized control in a coup last
year well more now from DW's political
correspondent Simon young here in Berlin
and from DW's correspondent Christine
mundwa who joins me from losos good to
see both of you Simon let me start with
you why was the bundes fa the German
military in ner I mean what was their
most important
Mission yeah this uh bunes Fair Mission
has been through a number of phases but
it began in 2016 when the Germans set up
a supply base uh in ner which was really
there to uh provide logistic support for
their their operations in neighboring
Mali in particular the German role as
part of the United Nations minusma
stabilization Mission uh for Marley but
uh that came to an end in 2023 since
then uh this uh base was really uh used
as a sort of evacuation pathway uh for
uh for Western troops out of uh Mali uh
they have also uh had some sort of
cooperation and training role as well in
ner itself but that was essentially what
they were doing there and Simon why did
the bundes fair why do they have to
leave the country so
quickly yeah the specific reason is that
uh there there was the the contract the
agreement that could that uh determines
the conditions under which German troops
can operate in ner uh uh runs out at the
end of August and they say there's no
time to negotiate a new one but really
all this is to do with what you already
mentioned the military coup in nir in
2023 since then uh things have uh very
significantly changed uh in particular
uh the uh that military government is
looking much more toward towards uh
nonwestern allies in particular Russia
for its support it's become much more
difficult uh for Western countries to
operate there the French have left the
United States military is also pulled
back recently so the whole Foundation of
Germany's role in this year has really
changed Christine gery's withdrawal from
ner is part of a a wider story of the
West losing ground in West Africa and
the Sahel what are the implications of
this in the
region well Brenton's had a a
destabilizing effect uh in the sense
that where we've had these CS in in ner
in Marley and Bina Faso what has
followed is uh the West uh being kicked
out or pulling back um and then the
Russians that vacuum and what that's
done is sour diplomatic relations
between neighbors who are now
essentially camped into groups of those
who are backed by Russia and those that
uh remain firmly in in the western Camp
uh for example here in the region there
is the body echas uh where the three
countries in question Mali bukina fasu
and ner have left and formed their own
Alliance uh so we have a situation now
where countries that were neighbors uh
are essentially almost becoming enemies
remember was the threat of uh military
intervention by EAS into ner as a result
of that coup last year yeah I remember
that and Christine let's talk about
Russia it appears to be benefiting from
the withdrawal of Western countries as
Simon was mentioning um how is Russia
filling the vacuum that the West is
leaving well we're seeing Russia um
deepen security security ties uh with
these countries in question in the
region and we know that Russia is
providing the security for the jenta
elites uh in these countries uh this the
sahal West Africa happens to really be
the epicenter if I can call it that of
of global terrorism you have various
groups linked to Isis and and Al-Qaeda
operating in these countries the
Russians have joined forces with the
junter in these respective countries to
fight these groups as well as separatist
groups there's also something in it for
Russia Brent in the sense that this is a
region that is got vast deposits of of
mineral resources I'm talking gold uh
and other um resources that of course
Russia will then be benefiting from as
it uh deepens its Partnerships and
alliances with these countries in the
realm of security in in Simon I'll just
pick up on what Christine said there has
Germany's Sahel policy has it
failed well Brent I think you certainly
could argue that in the sense that you
know the in particular the limited
German military presence in countries
like Mali and ner was often perceived as
bringing real little real benefit uh on
the ground there uh islamist
insurgencies continue we've got this
swing towards Russia uh instability
remains and the buddhis spent much of
its time sort of protecting itself
rather than helping local people on the
other hand U development assist
assistance will continue and also
limited sort of technical things like
medical uh support and legal training
assistance and so on those things will
go on and I think those twoo are part of
the uh slow work of building better
relationships across the region suon
young in Berlin and Christine wunda in
Lagos to both of you thank you
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