The Military Junta of Niger harequired the French ambassador to leave the country in the next few hours. Many citizens take to the streets, chant in favor of Vladimir Putin and burn french flagsfor them, the great predators of their wealth.

One month has passed in the country since the coup that brought the military to power. After decades of French influence, the former colonizing power gives way to Russia, increasingly present in the Sahel through the mercenaries of the Wagner Group.

As Dagauh Komenan, a Western Sahel specialist historian, explains to La Sexta, Russia, and also China, have presented themselves as the last resort they have to overthrow this Franco-colonialist system. Although they are aware that there are more to blame, including the African elite itself, which is complicit in this system.

This story, which seems not to favor France, is the one that the kremlin is willing to take advantage offering himself as a guarantor of security in the Sahelsomething that until now only France had offered, although this means the entry of the Wagner Group for Africa.

For the expert historian, the people do not have many options: “There is no democratic country that wants to sacrifice its children for security in the Sahel,” he explains.

Russia does volunteer for it and also offers technology, being one of the main countries in the development of strategic mining, nuclear and water purification technologythree of the fundamental axes that they need in Africa.

In this context, the Western sanctions, first in 2014 with Crimea and then after the invasion of Ukraine, have accelerated this process in which Russia not only seeks position in the Sahel, but also in Morocco. This country is a key player for Russia because it has 70% of the world’s phosphate reserves, a fundamental ingredient for agriculture and without which there is no large-scale agricultural production.

But not only Russia looks fondly on Moroccoalso the United States and the European Union, and not only because of its resources: it is the key to migration to Europe and a privileged partner for North America.