Washington views West African nation as bulwark against Islamist terror, Russian advances in Sahel region

A group of military officers in the West African country of Niger said Wednesday they had seized power and removed the country’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum. WSJ’s Gabriele Steinhauser explains the implications for the Sahel region and the U.S 

NAIROBI, Kenya—A group of military officers in the West African country of Niger claimed that they had overthrown the elected president, shaking one of the most-reliable U.S. allies in the fight against al Qaeda, Islamic State and Boko Haram.