Violent Jihadism in Niger
Causes: Overthrow of government due to military coup (last democracy in the Sahel overthrown), socioeconomic factors (extreme poverty, inequality, etc.), political instability
Perspective 3
International Comparisons
Burkina Faso + Mali: spikes in Jihadist violence after military coup (also in the Sahel region - clear comparisons)
Nigeria + Somalia: also have territory controlled by VNSAs
Anti-Western sentiments - Dependency Theory + Post-colonialism
Support for Wagner Group (research further)
perspective 3
Long-term impacts
lack of government regulation and border control will send a wave of insurgency and instability to more prosperous African nations (Global significance + AU perspective)
Widespread economic consequences as Africa is a popular exporter - especially for China
Mazoum government was improving standards of living - which is why ecowas is trying to reverse the coup
Historical context
Algerian civil war + collapse of the Gadaffi regime in Libya - militants settled in the Sahel
Climate change
Africa doesn't have a history of inter-state war so there was never a need to build up robust security services
Coup has also caused a security gap - allowing Insurgents to attack easily (example: 17 killed in first jihadi attack since the coup)
Jihadi factions are engaged in violent conflict with each other: Islamic State vs Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin
Will ramp up the violence to mark their territory and this is much easier because of the coup
African Union Perspective (look into actions taken by them)
Jihadists in Niger could collab with jhadists in Nigeria (Africa's largest economy)
perspective 1
Military coup has completely overturned Western Counterterrorism efforts in West Africa (led by the United States)
Bring in staircase to terrorism
Can open the door for Russia to gain more influence as the Wagner group is already present in Mali
French troops are there currently - if they move out, Wagner group forces can come in
Wagner group aligned with junta, West aligned with Mazoum government
Summary: Jihadist insurgency in the Sahel (mainly pertaining to groups affiliated with Al-qaeda and the IS) since the Algerian civil war and collapse of Libya's Gaddafi regime. The presence of jihadist groups can be explained by various socioeconomic and cultural factors. In recent years, counterterrorism efforts by the West were seeminf successful, especially in Niger given the strong relations between the Mazoum government and the United States. However, there was a military coup in Niger, upending all the progress made in counterterrorism. The junta (group that took power in Niger) is aligned with the Kremlin-backed Wagner group, which may step in to take over counterterrorism efforts, losing the Western world a strong ally.
Perspective 2
ecowas perspective
counterinsurgency models
neo-colonialism