Niger Coup Upends U.S. Security Plans in West Africa, Handing Russia an Opportunity

Several countries have ousted leaders, making it tougher for Washington to counter al Qaeda and Islamic State
The head of Niger’s presidential guard declared himself the country’s leader on Friday after soldiers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup. The army warned against foreign military interventions to reinstate Bazoum

NAIROBI—This week’s military coup in Niger threatens to disrupt the entire U.S. strategy for fighting Islamist militants as they expand across western Africa, and potentially hand Russia a strategic advantage as it tries to widen its own influence in the region.