Russia and the Wagner mercenary group have "tried to take advantage" of instability in Niger, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Tuesday, two weeks into a bloodless military coup that ousted Niger's U.S.-allied president.
The uranium-rich, landlocked West Africa country is located in a region beset by military coups, poverty and Islamist extremism. Last month's coup was the country's fifth since it gained independence from France in 1960. Washington - worried about the West's waning influence in Africa and two U.S. military bases in Niger - has called for the restoration of democracy and paused security coordination and financial aid.