Moscow is looking to fill the gap now that the military junta in Niamey has given the US Military the boot. Niger had been on the frontlines with the West fighting against the jihadists in Africa's Sahel Region. However, relations have changed dramatically with military coups in Mali and Burkina Faso bothof which have also sought closer relations with Russia.

Russian influence has grown in the Sahel as the Wagner Mercenary Group was reorganized and rebranded as Africa Corps following the August 2023 death of its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin in a plane crash that has never been fully explained.

Russia Vying for Influence

It is being reported that there are fake videos of the Nigerian Embassy in Niamey, Niger of the embassy being set on fire by protestors:

Source: https://x.com/NigeriaMFA/status/1690330616682663936?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Escreen-name%3ANigeriaMFA%7Ctwcon%5Es1

https://undark.org/2024/03/13/satellites-show-damaged-buildings-gaza/#:~:text=So%20far%20in%20the%20conflict,the%20northern%20parts%20of%20Gaza.

This was a BDS Israel protest that is being held at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence

Prominent Radio Broadcaster Richard Sky (Citi 97.3 FM) has filed a writ with the Ghana Supreme Court asking the court to prevent the Human and Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill(also known as the Ghana Anti-Gay Bill) from being signed into law by to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He also seeks an injuction against any attempt to enforce the bill especially the part of it that criminalizes same sex relationships.

"The writ also contends that the anti-gay bill contravenes many provisions in the constitution such as Article 12 (1) which enjoins all arms of government to respect and uphold the fundamental human rights of all persons, Article 15(1) which protects the dignity of all persons and Article 18(2) which protects the privacy of people.

Other provisions, he argues, are Article 17(1) which provides for equality before the law and Article 21(a) and (b) which protects freedom of speech and thought."

The constitutionality of the bill has also been challenged previously by human rights activist Dr. Amanda Odoi who claimed the Speaker of the Parliament and the Parliment in general had violated the constitution.

https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/stop-akufo-addo-from-assenting-anti-gay-bill-richard-sky-asks-supreme-court.html