This ghastly creature descending on a simmering conflict is like an overfed Fellbeast swooping in to pick off road kill. She is nothing but death, doom, war, and destruction come upon them, and she excels at it.

‼️ The Heart of Darkness Visits Africa

Mistah Kurtz-he dead
            A penny for the Old Guy

So … the inimitable Victoria the Hutt paid a visit to Niger.

Bear in mind that an unknown number of PMC Wagner forces are already there, and are at least "advising" the leaders of… pic.twitter.com/L5WG2wrNQr

— Will Schryver (@imetatronink) August 8, 2023

My previous posts on this coup – in order – are here and here if you need to catch up or want a quick background refresh on the situation.

On Saturday it was reported that the junta leaders had solicited help from the Russian Wagner group, yet another sign (besides all the flags at protest marches and gatherings) that the group was turning towards the Russians. The deadline from the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) members to release the elected president – Mohamed Bazoum – and return the country to a democratic state or face military intervention was fast approaching.

Niger’s new military junta has asked for help from the Russian mercenary group Wagner as the deadline nears for it to release the country’s ousted president or face possible military intervention by the West African regional bloc, according to an analyst.

The request came during a visit by a coup leader, Gen. Salifou Mody, to neighboring Mali, where he made contact with someone from Wagner, Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Center, told The Associated Press. He said three Malian sources and a French diplomat confirmed the meeting first reported by France 24.

“They need (Wagner) because they will become their guarantee to hold onto power,” he said, adding that the group is considering the request. A Western military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment, told the AP they have also heard reports that the junta asked for help from Wagner in Mali.

Not that anyone’s keeping count, but for those of you who are…

Laughs in Sudanese and Afghani

— tree hugging s*ster 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) August 8, 2023

Afghanistan. Sudan.

Yeah, Biden and his crackhead team of diplomats are pretty damn close to blowing another one. So with the continent of Africa teetering on edge – a potential realignment to Russia, not to mention throwing away a shot at bolstering Europe’s energy independence – what did they do in their panic…well, once they woke up?

Nuland went in like the 800lb neo-con gorilla she is…

…SO, a day after the expiration of the ECOWAS ultimatum for military intervention, the Nigerien junta appointed a new Prime Minister. At the same time, the US Acting Deputy Secretary of State, Victoria Nuland made a quick visit to Niger. According to the US State Department, Nuland traveled to Niamey “to express our grave concern regarding developments in Niger and our resolute commitment to supporting democracy and constitutional order.” Furthermore, it noted that Nuland “met with Nigerien civil society and separately with members of the group asserting power in Niger to explain what is at stake if Niger does not respect its own constitutional order.” Nuland explained that one of the things that’ll be at stake is millions of dollars in economic and security support for the people of Niger, saying that the United States was pausing the assistance to the Nigerien government. She also underlined that the U.S. will remain in close contact with “our allies and partners, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

Speaking to reporters, Nuland later said that talks lasted more than two hours with different groups but that she failed to succeed in her effort to convince the rebels to cancel the coup. She then said that she had given the military several options and also made it clear the implications for relations with the US if Bezoum is not released or if the military junta follows the footsteps of neighboring Mali by collaborating with Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group saying, “The people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in.”

Interestingly, she neither met with the head of the military junta who is now the current head of government in Niger, nor the ousted and detained Bezoum, as all efforts to meet them failed. Many see Nuland’s visit as a “kiss of death” implying a western-supported military strike on the country was imminent. Victoria Nuland has that weird track record of leaving behind a trail of wars and destruction whenever she makes trips like this one. Sudan is one clear case study.

…and didn’t accomplish a damn thing, for all of her “don’t you dare..” bluster.

…She said, “We were left to have to depend on Mr. Barmou to make clear, again, what is at stake.” Among her chief messages conveyed to the junta leaders included a warning not to cooperate with Russia’s Wagner group.

Not long afterward, this did happen, so her democracy spiel wasn’t the message it was cracked up to be. I guess Bazoum is lucky to still be alive.

The Ex-President of Niger 🇳🇪 Republic is seen leaving the presidential villa after signing his resignation. pic.twitter.com/gROd3u1sFI

— Akwa Ibom 1st Son 🇿🇲🇳🇬 (@elonchorch) August 8, 2023

The junta could give a damn about Victoria Nuland’s reading them the riot act.

BREAKING just now, it looks as if the ECOWAS is climbing down off the high-rope. No rumble in West Africa – fight’s been called.

#BREAKING Diplomacy 'best way forward' on Niger crisis: president of Nigeria and ECOWAS pic.twitter.com/MH8FBtT1cd

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) August 8, 2023

What this means if it stands, again, is the loss of yet another West African state to Russian influence and possible jihadi control. We will lose our two bases in Niger – our only eyes in the sky in Central Africa keeping track of ISIS and other terrorist groups.

Please, PLEASE do say a prayer for the over 1100 U.S. personnel on those bases who are, for all intents and purposes, trapped now. The logistics alone for evac-ing them are awful. Just awful. There’s virtually nothing for staging options.

You know these weasels haven’t given these bases or these troops half a thought. They were all set on sailing in and laying ultimatums that would be immediately acquiesced to.

Niger had offered a glimmer of hope that the jihadists in the Sahel could be defeated. If the coup goes unchallenged, that light will be snuffed out, casting the region and its more than 70m people into darkness https://t.co/u1WoCov2DO

— The Economist (@TheEconomist) August 8, 2023

Europe will lose the proposed nat gas pipeline from Nigeria that would have brought them yet another step closer to breaking free of dependence on Russian gas.

God almighty. This is such a mind-blowing, didn’t have to happen AGAIN freaking disaster.

"Lost another one." https://t.co/XQfHkyEwRT pic.twitter.com/f4Wxj6cqa6

— tree hugging s*ster 🎃 (@WelbornBeege) August 8, 2023

Hey, Brandon Obama – what else do we have to lose, how many American lives have to be placed needlessly in jeopardy, before you finally yank your B team of perpetual losers out?

God almighty.