By Enyichukwu Enemanna
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has said Russia’s Wagner mercenary group is “taking advantage” of instability in Niger, but said he did not think that the recent forceful power grab was instigated either by Russia or the group.
Featuring on BBC’s Focus on Africa programme, Blinken said the US was worried about the group “possibly manifesting itself” in parts of the Sahel region.
“I think what happened, and what continues to happen in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but…they tried to take advantage of it.”
“Every single place that this Wagner group has gone, death, destruction and exploitation have followed,” said Mr Blinken.
“Insecurity has gone up, not down”.
He added that there was a “repeat of what’s happened in other countries, where they brought nothing but bad things in their wake”.
The landlocked country has been ruled by a junta following the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26.
Report has it that the coup leaders have asked for help from Wagner, which is known to be present in neighbouring Mali.
ECOWAS regional bloc had issued a Sunday deadline to Niger’s junta leaders restore constitutional order by reinstating President Bazoum.
This deadline was ignored by the General Abdourahamane Tchiani-led junta and ECOWAS has fixed a meeting on Thursday to decide on what to do next.
On Monday, US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland held what she described as “difficult and frank” talks with the coup leaders, whom she said understood the risks of working with the mercenaries.
Mr Bazoum, who is currently in captivity, has also spoken of his concerns about Wagner’s influence in Africa.
