A major war is boiling in Central Africa

[mapuc]

As we didn't had enough of war in the world it looks like another major war is on its rise in the horizon

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20230801-burkina-faso-and-mali-say-intervention-in-niger-would-be-declaration-of-war

Markus

[mapuc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woubjcbchqY&ab_channel=CombatVeteranReacts

Markus

[Otto Harkaman]

I think this is some of the fallout from the French military "Operation Barkhane." There was a big withdraw of French troops this time last year.

How France Failed Mali: the End of Operation Barkhane

After nine years in Mali, France has officially left. Operation Barkhane, the French military counter-terrorism campaign which began in 2013, withdrew from its base in Mali this August. Since then, Operation Barkhane has almost universally been interpreted as a massive disaster on the part of the French. How France managed to fail Mali so miserably and whether the already precarious situation of the region will improve is still up for debate.
https://hir.harvard.edu/how-france-failed-mali-the-end-of-operation-barkhane/



Operation Barkhane

Operation Barkhane was an anti-insurgent operation that started on 1 August 2014 and formally ended on 9 November 2022. It was led by the French military against Islamist groups in Africa's Sahel region.[22] and consisted of a roughly 3,000-strong French force, which was permanently headquartered in N'Djamena, the capital of Chad.[1][15] The operation was led in co-operation with five countries, all of which are former French colonies that span the Sahel: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger. Mali was a part of the operation until August 2022.[1] The countries are collectively referred to as the "G5 Sahel".[23] The operation was named after a crescent-shaped dune type that is common in the Sahara desert.[24]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Barkhane


Before Mali withdrawal, France prepares future Sahel strategy

France is stationing more forces in Niger and Chad to fight ‘terrorist groups’ amid 2,400 troops exiting from Mali.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/7/13/ahead-of-mali-withdraw-france-prepares-future-sahel-strategy

[mapuc]

In the news here it is said that the new leader in Niger has turn its back to France and open up for Russia.

There are report of Wagner in Niger.

Markus

[Catfish]

I am sure that the average african warlord prefers Russia, for obvious reasons :D

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/5F8YEDLsccY?si=G3Ur6SFo_z5qXpkY
Operation Barkhane: the French army in operation

https://youtu.be/7rVfnjW2Vzg?si=dB2GhNtMbbTdCF1D
Mali: The Last Soliders of Barkhane

[mapuc]

If the thing hit the fan, could it then turn the entire continent into a war zone ?

Markus

[Otto Harkaman]

Sorry been following this for awhile, glad you made a thread Mapuc

https://youtu.be/fs1cBZq_reY?si=XBqVKV5Q8DMYxFZD
Wagner will continue Mali, C.A.R operations says Lavrov

https://youtu.be/q_iFQlPCNX0?si=Qu6zp8JdhEagQEza
What are Russian mercenaries up to in Mali and elsewhere in Africa?

[Otto Harkaman]

If the thing hit the fan, could it then turn the entire continent into a war zone ?

Markus

Its the Modern Great Game, China and the US are also involved close bye.

The Great Game was a rivalry between the 19th-century British (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Empire) and Russian Empires (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_Empire) over influence in Central Asia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Asia), primarily in Afghanistan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emirate_of_Afghanistan), Persia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qajar_Iran), and later Tibet (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tibet).

[mapuc]

I know China has for years if not decades tried to overtake Europeans interest in Africa.

Every time I heard or read about it I was thinking how far can they go before they have crossed a red line-Where Europe says enough.

Oh by the way it's not in central Africa it's in West Africa.

Markus

[Skybird]

Even if you modernise a soldier's equipment and train him and equip him and make him equal to three enemy figthers, and then four, and then five, it does not change the fact that his boots still can stand on only one piece of ground at any given time, not in severla places.



The West thinks he can compensate with technology for his low numbers, and clever tatcics and so forth. And since decades now I can see how well this works. We loose one war after the other, and loose one military engagement and policing operation after the other. A few limited successes of as limited importance - and several times as many failures.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r66jdOlwpiM

[Jimbuna]

Wagner will take every advantage they are capable of grabbing.

[Exocet25fr]

URANIUM.......:yeah:

https://www.politico.eu/article/niger-coup-spark-concerns-france-uranium-dependency/

[Otto Harkaman]

https://www.worldbulletin.net/images/haberler/news/2017/06/28/screen-shot-2017-06-28-at-120655.png
https://th-i.thgim.com/public/incoming/3pujs7/article66775191.ece/alternates/FREE_1200/TH25_REV_Wagner%20group.jpg

[mapuc]

In the news today it was said that they had an another meeting since Niger didn't accept the deadline.

I think they are thinking twice before intervene in Niger.

Markus

[Otto Harkaman]

Good Al Jazeera "Inside Story" video and podcast in article page
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/10/ecowas-summit-begins-in-nigeria-as-niger-coup-leaders-remain-defiant

ECOWAS leaders say all options open in Niger, including ‘use of force’
West African bloc activates standby force for possible Niger intervention, says it wants a peaceful restoration of democracy.

The remarks came as the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Nigeria’s Abuja on Thursday for an emergency summit to discuss responses to last month’s military takeover in Niger, after the coup leaders defied their earlier threat to use force to restore democracy.

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/11645256-1691687922.jpg
The President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu, centre, and leaders of ECOWAS meet to discuss the political situation in Niger, in Abuja, Nigeria [EPA]

[Otto Harkaman]

This whole thing makes me think of the French TV series "A Very Secret Service"

https://youtu.be/rI7mf8TJaME?si=gSlOynpQzNxallDS
https://youtu.be/K1eBLuiDK-w?si=qpJJcVktqvv7Xtvb

[Exocet25fr]

:haha::har: Very funny, I don't know this TV serie....:o

[Jimbuna]

Good Al Jazeera "Inside Story" video and podcast in article page
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/10/ecowas-summit-begins-in-nigeria-as-niger-coup-leaders-remain-defiant

ECOWAS leaders say all options open in Niger, including ‘use of force’
West African bloc activates standby force for possible Niger intervention, says it wants a peaceful restoration of democracy.

The remarks came as the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) met in Nigeria’s Abuja on Thursday for an emergency summit to discuss responses to last month’s military takeover in Niger, after the coup leaders defied their earlier threat to use force to restore democracy.

https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/11645256-1691687922.jpg
The President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu, centre, and leaders of ECOWAS meet to discuss the political situation in Niger, in Abuja, Nigeria [EPA]

This could all get messy very quickly.

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/_d_UH3lyqb8?si=fEx4T9EBpDSw7-8W

3212 unredacted the "Tongo Tongo ambush"
https://youtu.be/qwOPg-1G1J0?si=mLeZCvBl-HtFdV-r

The Tongo Tongo ambush or the Niger ambush occurred on 4 October 2017, when armed militants from the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) attacked Nigerien and US soldiers outside the village of Tongo Tongo, Niger, while they were returning to base after a stop in the village.[20] During the ambush, four Nigeriens, four US soldiers, and at least 21 ISGS militants were killed, and eight Nigeriens and two US soldiers including the team commander were wounded. In the day preceding the ambush, the Nigerien and US soldiers conducted a mission attempting to locate and capture or kill Doundou Chefou, a commander in the ISGS.[21]

The ambush sparked political debate over the presence of US forces in Africa and brought attention to previously under-reported US military activities in the region.[22] The ambush also prompted congressional inquiries, and an investigation by the US Department of Defense (DoD).[23] The DoD inquiry, completed in 2018, found that the 11-member US special forces team was not prepared for the mission, and identified other flaws in planning.[20]

The ambush remains the largest loss of American lives in combat in Africa since the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.[1]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tongo_Tongo_ambush

[mapuc]

It's TASS I can therefore not say how reliable it is

"The obvious risks posed by the crisis around Niger are visible in real time and may manifest themselves before long, because the international community hiding under the cover of ECOWAS has considerable leverage that can certainly threaten the stability of Niger and of the entire region.

https://tass.com/world/1659417

Then I read this article

ECOWAS military intervention was doubtful after Nigeria’s Senate on Saturday rejected sending troops. Nigeria has the largest army in the region and a better equipped air force, but there was little appetite among the country’s politicians to engage in war with their neighbor. ECOWAS has scheduled another emergency meeting for this Thursday.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/08/09/niger-coup-neighbors-ecowas-nigeria-intervene/

Markus

[Jimbuna]

This is precisely the sort of garbage you'd expect from the Hindustan Times, the same Hindustan Times so often cited by a certain individual in the Ukraine thread.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUjkhub5x4Q

[mapuc]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idKHcxIwbE0&ab_channel=CombatVeteranReacts

Markus

[Jimbuna]

Not long now perhaps :hmmm:

[Otto Harkaman]

I think its just posturing, these countries don't have the logistics to mount a large attack on another country.

Their military are mainly to keep their populations inline and maybe some counterinsurgency.
https://www.sbmintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Military-Strength-Across-ECOWAS-1280x1536.jpg
(couldn't load image need to view as link)
#Daily Chart: Military strength of Niger and its allies vs. the rest of ECOWAS
https://twentytendaily.com/daily-chart-military-strength-of-niger-and-its-allies-vs-the-rest-of-ecowas/


What the French, Russian, Chinese and Americans are up to is a whole other thing.

[Jimbuna]

I think its just posturing, these countries don't have the logistics to mount a large attack on another country.

Their military are mainly to keep their populations inline and maybe some counterinsurgency.

https://www.sbmintel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Military-Strength-Across-ECOWAS-1280x1536.jpg
(couldn't load image need to view as link)

#Daily Chart: Military strength of Niger and its allies vs. the rest of ECOWAS
https://twentytendaily.com/daily-chart-military-strength-of-niger-and-its-allies-vs-the-rest-of-ecowas/

Fair point but still numbers enough to kill a lot of people.

[Otto Harkaman]

https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/883340865832124426/1139959392687640586/France_in_the_Sahel.jpg
Task force Sabre
https://youtu.be/qhR8qmIcL2I?si=yPq3Hp2L2j-QMN2i
Operation Takuba
https://youtu.be/vVfFzFk76-I?si=ablkEp9AlYqnTON2
Sahel
https://youtu.be/q_1Ypz2mNSc?si=lc4H_MRkD2GeDBIT
https://youtu.be/ORI8Gl9he44?si=GSE1AAB2RZrZMqfR
Wagner
https://youtu.be/5sDQAW_VGg0?si=Zni8wxvxexpqmz1s

[Otto Harkaman]

My quick off the cuff assessment, ECOWAS doesn't matter. The main problem seems to be Anti-French colonialism, which the Russians are exploiting (encouraging?), the continue rise of Islamic insurgency and always local warlords(bandits).

[Otto Harkaman]

Well there you go...

West African bloc scraps crisis meeting on Niger coup

As ECOWAS leaders fail to meet.

An emergency meeting between Wester African nations on the coup in Niger has been postponed indefinitely as concerns over the health of detained President Mohammed Bazoum increase.

Members of the Economic Cooperation of West African Nations (ECOWAS) were due to meet in the Ghanaian capital Accra on Saturday to discuss how to tackle the Niger crisis after they approved the deployment of a stand-by force to restore constitutional order.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/12/west-african-bloc-scraps-crisis-meeting-on-niger-coup

[Catfish]

Must be hard for french nationalists to praise Russia and french colonies, and then still support Wagner/Russia taking them away from France :D

[Jeff-Groves]

Are the French Troops there La Légion?

[Catfish]

Sure.

[Otto Harkaman]

Are the French Troops there La Légion?

Seems like a large dispersed force all through the Sahel, so I am sure there are some Legionaries. Czech, Estonian, Swedish and other foreign nationals as well. Just some of the units I noticed mentioned:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Insigne_r%C3%A9gimentaire_du_1er_r%C3%A9giment_de_ hussards_parachutistes.jpg
1st Parachute Hussar Regiment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Parachute_Hussar_Regiment

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Insigne_1er_RS%2C_1997.svg/200px-Insigne_1er_RS%2C_1997.svg.png
1st Spahi Regiment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Spahi_Regiment

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Embl%C3%A8me_des_commandos_marine.svg/200px-Embl%C3%A8me_des_commandos_marine.svg.png
Commandos Marine
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commandos_Marine

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/2rep.jpg/200px-2rep.jpg
2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Foreign_Parachute_Regiment

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/1rec_SVG.svg/150px-1rec_SVG.svg.png
1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1st_Foreign_Cavalry_Regiment

and many more

Operation Barkhane
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Barkhane

Takuba Task Force
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takuba_Task_Force

Barkhane, Takuba, Sabre: French and European military missions in the Sahel
https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20220216-barkhane-takuba-sabre-french-and-european-military-missions-in-the-sahel
(^ lots of good maps in this article from France24)

[mapuc]

Well there you go...


https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/12/west-african-bloc-scraps-crisis-meeting-on-niger-coup

If President Mohammed Bazoum die in captivity what then ?

Will any plane of intervention in Niger be over, if this should happen?

There's no more reason to intervene if President Mohammed Bazoum is gone.

Markus

[Bilge_Rat]

It does not look like there will be any intervention, the neighbouring countries are divided are it is doubtful they would act on their own.

If France was spearheading an intervention, it might work, but reading the French media, there does not seem to be much of an appetite for it. The Coup leaders seem to have some popular support. No doubt, France could recapture Niamey, but it could easily become a bloody civil war with French troops in the middle of it.

On the presence of Wagner mercenaries, I would not read too much into the supposed Russian influence. USA, France, Russia and China are all vying for influence in the region and local governments are quite adept at playing one against the other to get a freer hand and more cash.

[Jimbuna]

Pretty much what I was thinking :yep:

[Otto Harkaman]

ECOWAS sanctions: Tension high as businesses hit by border closure (Al Jazeera)
https://youtu.be/38Ewh_vdDvw?si=-9XYCNY7HRiTRkEc


* One thing that I have gotten from trying to understand what is happening in Niger is that not much is being said, in the West, about Libya which is a a powder keg.

[Bilge_Rat]

yes, Libya is a major problem in the region,. Ever since the overthrow of Gaddafi in 2011, it has been a failed state with two competing "national" governments and much of the territory carved up between rival warlords, criminal gangs and various islamist terrorist group. Gaddafi's armories were looted, parceled out among the various groups and this is usually seen as one of the major reason for much of the violence in the region in the past 10 years since many of the groups carrying out attacks in the region seem to be based in Libya. In terms of terrorist attacks, Mali is currently one of the most dangerous spot on the planet.

I think the main reason why the West ignores the Libya problem is because the currrent situation is in large part a result of the botched Western intervention in 2011 which helped to overthrow Gaddafi, but then refused to put "boots on the ground" to stabilise the situation. There is also no good and easy solution other than trying to help the western backed "national" government to establish control over the country.

[Otto Harkaman]

Yeah there can be no stability in the south while Libya is a total mess. I don't think the question is will there be a major war but will there ever be stability in the Sahel region of Africa? The Sahel seems to be a perpetual war zone.

Worst fighting in months as clashes hit Libyan capital Tripoli
Clashes have broken out in the Libyan capital Tripoli, residents said, after the reported seizure of a powerful armed faction commander by a rival force.
“We have heard gunfire for almost two hours now and we do not know what will happen. We fear for our safety,” said one of the residents in Furnaj district late on Monday.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/14/worst-fighting-in-months-as-clashes-hit-libyan-capital-tripoli
I did notice an interesting article the other day, seems significant but I don't know enough to understand why. I have seen news rumors that Russia will stop funding Wagner but what that means will be seen later.

Drone attacks hit Wagner base in Libya; no casualties reported
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/30/drone-attacks-hit-wagner-base-in-libya-no-casualties-reported

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/ydH39HjuFZs?si=7RSdlOKBfoepcdqH
https://youtu.be/36fYIxPiZW8?si=uZ3og11ryqO0zEUn

[mapuc]

Wagner group is like a cancer spreading itself similar to metastasis

Markus

[Jimbuna]

NEXT!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FAmOsd74hw

[Otto Harkaman]

Ukraine’s special services ‘likely’ behind strikes on Wagner-backed forces in Sudan

https://www.cnn.com/interactive/uploads/20230918-20230913-2-khartoumdrones-investigation-ac_desktop.png
https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/19/africa/ukraine-military-sudan-wagner-cmd-intl/index.html

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/O6S27UonqKI?si=_JelkoNf1IssaCKh

[Otto Harkaman]

https://imgl.krone.at/scaled/3477315/vf89860/full.jpg

Sahel: A new hotbed of jihadi terror

In the slipstream of headline-grabbing crises, the Sahel has degenerated into a focal point of Islamist terrorism. In the barren belt of land, which stretches 7,000 kilometers from Mauritania to the Red Sea, some of the world's deadliest terrorist groups are up to mischief. Jihadist organizations such as JNIM, Boko Haram, the Islamic State and various splinter groups of Al Qaeda have taken advantage of the power vacuum created by several military coups in the region and unleashed a brutal struggle against governments and civilians.

https://www.krone.at/3477324?utm_source=ground.news&utm_medium=referral

US hands over the last military base in Niger to the ruling junta

The handing over of Airbase 201 in the city of Agadez came after the U.S. troops withdrew earlier this month from Airbase 101, a small drone base in Niger’s capital of Niamey.

U.S. troops have until Sept. 15 to leave the Sahel country following an agreement with Nigerien authorities.

In March, Niger’s ruling junta ended an agreement that allowed U.S. troops to operate in the West African country. A few months later, officials of the two countries announced in a joint statement that U.S. troops would complete their withdrawal by the middle of September.

https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1ogzdL.img?w=612&h=459&m=6

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/us-hands-over-the-last-military-base-in-niger-to-the-ruling-junta/ar-AA1oglcK?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=b3ab9a8323a2491b99231ea79603e12f&ei=18

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/ADspsOux6OE?si=2hglh487oKB_Pmqp

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/2I5ye4s--3I?si=ArnPSSLY5cYt8LAe

Here's a timeline of U.S. military involvement in Niger:

Early 2000s
2002: The U.S. begins limited engagement in Niger as part of the broader Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP), aimed at countering terrorist activities in the Sahel region.

2013: The U.S. establishes a small military presence in Niger to support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations against extremist groups in the region. This includes the establishment of a drone base in Niamey, Niger's capital.

October 2015: The U.S. signs a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) with Niger, formalizing the presence of U.S. military personnel in the country. This agreement allows for an expanded U.S. military footprint and the construction of new facilities, including an airbase in Agadez.

October 4, 2017: Four U.S. soldiers and four Nigerien soldiers are killed in an ambush by ISIS-affiliated militants near the village of Tongo Tongo in Niger. This incident draws significant attention to the U.S. military presence in the region.

2018: The U.S. begins construction of Air Base 201 in Agadez, a strategic location for drone operations across West and North Africa. The base becomes operational later in the year, significantly enhancing U.S. ISR capabilities in the region.

2020: The U.S. continues its counterterrorism operations in Niger, focusing on intelligence sharing, training, and advising Nigerien forces in their fight against extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISIS in the Greater Sahara (ISIS-GS).

August 2023: A military coup in Niger leads to a temporary halt of U.S. military operations in the country. The situation prompts the U.S. to reassess its military presence and operations, leading to the repositioning of some troops and the reduction of activities.

2024: The U.S. military presence in Niger remains, albeit with a scaled-back footprint. The focus continues on supporting regional counterterrorism efforts and maintaining stability in the Sahel region, although operations are more limited due to the ongoing political situation.
This timeline reflects the ongoing and evolving nature of U.S. military involvement in Niger, particularly in the context of counterterrorism and regional stability efforts.

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/P5lB_oL1hJM?si=udAm2xHbXpK5HK79

[Otto Harkaman]

The U.S. involvement in the Sahel region is primarily aimed at combating terrorism and managing regional stability amid growing Russian and Chinese influence. Key U.S. operations have centered around Niger, where an airbase near Agadez has served as a hub for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) operations, supporting local and international counterterrorism efforts. Until recently, the U.S. maintained about 1,000 troops and a $100 million drone base in Niger. However, following a 2023 coup in Niger, the U.S. was asked to withdraw, severely limiting its counterterrorism capabilities in the region.

In addition to Niger, U.S. forces have collaborated with regional governments, focusing on training, equipping, and sharing intelligence with partner forces to tackle groups such as Boko Haram, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and ISIS affiliates. The political instability, marked by coups in Niger, Chad, and Mali, has created challenges for the U.S. to maintain a stable presence and effective partnerships, which have become complicated by the presence of the Wagner Group and other Russian-backed forces.

The U.S. departure from Niger, combined with reduced French influence in former colonies, is shifting the balance of power in the Sahel. This withdrawal also represents a strategic setback, as the Sahel’s instability risks spreading extremism to broader regions. Going forward, the U.S. faces a dilemma in how to maintain influence and counter growing rival presences in the Sahel.
https://theintercept.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/American-base-Agadez-1518795966.jpg
https://theintercept.com/2018/02/18/niger-air-base-201-africom-drones/

https://youtu.be/_d_UH3lyqb8?si=7vSLCYLxbSvrukJl

[Dargo]

Easy to solve, make it a proxy war like in the old days.

[Otto Harkaman]

Summarize Nigeria's oil industries connection to American Oil companies

American oil companies play a major role in Nigeria’s oil industry, primarily through partnerships and joint ventures with the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Shell, Chevron, and ExxonMobil are among the prominent U.S.-based firms deeply involved in the exploration, production, and export of Nigeria's crude oil and natural gas. These companies contribute to Nigeria’s substantial daily oil output and operate through collaborations that often involve profit-sharing and technology transfer agreements. For example, Nigeria exported an average of 1.49 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil in the first quarter of 2022, much of which involved American companies.

American firms not only support oil production but also aid in managing Nigeria’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports. ExxonMobil and Chevron, as well as companies from other regions, have collaborated with Nigerian authorities to develop natural gas infrastructure, aiming to leverage Nigeria's large reserves and reduce flaring. Despite the size of these operations, the Nigerian oil industry faces challenges, including crude theft, pipeline vandalism, and logistical hurdles that hinder production efficiency and limit U.S. companies' potential output.

https://youtu.be/c66cD0Ilfow?si=vrCX5DamntuSUCiM

What is the US military presence in Nigeria?

The U.S. military has a presence in Nigeria, although it does not involve a formal base. Instead, the cooperation focuses on advisory and support roles in counterterrorism and security initiatives. Through its Office of Security Cooperation, the U.S. works closely with Nigerian military leaders and provides training, equipment, and intelligence to help Nigeria tackle threats from extremist groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP. The U.S. also enhances Nigeria’s intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, which are crucial in combating terrorism in the northern and northeastern regions.

Recent U.S. military activities have included the delivery of high-value military equipment, such as attack helicopters, and the implementation of joint training programs. These efforts are primarily aimed at bolstering Nigeria's ability to handle its own security challenges autonomously, rather than establishing a permanent foreign military base, which remains a sensitive issue due to concerns over sovereignty and the efficacy of foreign bases in addressing local security threats.

Although some Nigerians advocate for a stronger military partnership, there is considerable resistance within the country against hosting any full-scale U.S. base, primarily due to historical non-alignment policies and concerns about national sovereignty. Instead, the U.S. is focusing on supporting Nigeria through existing multilateral initiatives, such as the Multinational Joint Task Force and the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, as well as direct bilateral programs that focus on military capacity-building and regional stability initiatives.

[Otto Harkaman]

https://youtu.be/P4U0mRt64c4?si=J3LEPMbey0plsu27

[Otto Harkaman]

Trump Moves Fast in New Global Raw Minerals Race

https://youtu.be/AO6DIyLB9CQ?si=1WVLbGm4_2wVnyCJ
Interesting video, Velocity news channel