Musings From Abroad

US troops to complete withdrawal from Niger’s Air Base

Published

3 months ago

July 6, 2024

According to a United States general on Friday, the US military will finish removing its soldiers from Niger’s Air Base 101 in the capital on Sunday and will next concentrate on leaving a significant drone base in the upcoming weeks.

Following a coup in the West African nation last year, the junta in Niger ordered the United States to remove its almost 1,000 soldiers from the country in April, causing Washington to face an embarrassing defeat.

Before the coup, Niger had played a significant role in the United States’ campaign against militants in the Sahel region of Africa, who had caused millions of people to be displaced and thousands of deaths. Though the process is taking a while, officials in Washington warn that American intelligence on the rapidly expanding extremist groups in the region is waning. Washington is looking for a Plan B in West Africa.

Air Force Major General Kenneth Ekman, who is in Niger to oversee the withdrawal, announced that a ceremony will take place on Sunday night to officially close Air Base 101 for the United States. In the nation’s capital, Niamey, the base is situated close to Diori Hamani International Airport.

“We will do a joint ceremony on that occasion that marks the departure of the last U.S. C-17 (aircraft). The government of Niger will assume control of former U.S. areas and facilities,” Ekman said, speaking by video conference.

Russia has sent military personnel to the same base as the United States is leaving, and they are conducting training exercises there. Ekman emphasized that he has obtained guarantees from Niger that the forces of the two countries will remain apart, despite claims made by US officials that there has been no communication between American and Russian servicemen there.

“When I last talked to a Nigerian interlocutor, he quantified the presence of Russian forces as under 100. And he also talked about when the Russians are done training them, they have told the Russians that they have to go home,” Ekman said.

Troops in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have conducted coups since 2020, accusing civilian leaders of facilitating the advance of Islamist extremists. Juntas have broken defence pacts with US, French, and UN forces once they have taken control. The military government of Niger has given the United States until September 15th to withdraw its forces. This includes withdrawing from a $100 million drone base close to Agadez in central Niger, which had supplied vital intelligence regarding organizations associated with the Islamic State and al Qaeda.

Musings From Abroad

Nigeria, World Bank partner on maritime development

Published

2 days ago

October 3, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The World Bank Group wants to boost Nigeria’s maritime sector alongside the Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.

An advisor to the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Ismail Omipdan, on Wednesday, said the action was in keeping with the ministry’s strategy.

Ms. Lia Sieghart, leading a World Bank Group team on a courtesy visit to blue economy minister Adegboyega Oyetola, said the visit was to discuss the government’s strategy for a sustainable and integrated blue economy and sustainable fisheries.

“It is to also identify areas where the World Bank can provide expertise and knowledge,” she said.

She praised President Bola Tinubu for creating the ministry, saying it showed the Nigerian government wanted to promote the sector.

Oyetola thanked the delegation for visiting and briefed them of the country’s marine and blue economy efforts.

He told the team the ministry prioritises fishery and aquaculture development.

“Fishery is the flagship of ministry. We are doing everything to regulate the activities in that sector. We are designating terminals for fishing activities. We want to do a sustainable fishery program on a sustainable basis and make it attractive to the youth.

“We intend to reduce importation and encourage production here, in Nigeria. Therefore, we are willing and ready to have you support our efforts, to realise our vision for the ministry,” Oyetola added.

Musings From Abroad

UN testimony claims Congo rebels earning $300,000 per month in seized mines

Published

4 days ago

October 1, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

The United Nations Security Council heard testimony on Monday indicating that rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have established a firm hold over the Rubaya coltan-mining region and are imposing a production tax projected to bring in $300,000 per month.

After fierce fighting in April, the M23 movement—a Tutsi-led group allegedly supported by Rwanda—took control of the region, which produces minerals needed in computers and smartphones.

The head of the United Nations mission in Congo, Bintou Keita, informed the Security Council that more than 15% of the world’s supply of tantalum comes from trading in minerals from the Rubaya region.

The United States and the European Union regard tantalum as an essential material, with Congo being the world’s biggest producer.

“This generates an estimated $300,000 in revenue per month to the armed group,” Keita said. “This is deeply concerning and needs to be stopped.”

“The criminal laundering of the DRC’s natural resources smuggled out of the country is strengthening armed groups, sustaining the exploitation of civilian populations, some of them reduced to de-facto slavery, and undermining peace-making efforts,” Keita added.

Most of Congo’s mineral riches are found in its east, an area beset by resource and territory disputes between multiple armed groups. Ever since the M23 insurrection reappeared in March 2022, things have gotten worse.

Since the conflict resumed, many have died and over a million people have been displaced.

Manufacturers are being closely watched to make sure that metals from conflict areas, like the eastern Congo, are not utilised in items like laptops and batteries for electric vehicles.

According to Keita, armed groups have become more powerful financially and militarily as a result of their transformation into militarised businesspeople in response to the boom in mining earnings.

“Unless international sanctions are imposed on those benefiting from this criminal trade, peace will remain elusive, and civilians will continue to suffer,” Keita said.