I think the coup in Niger represents a nadir with respect to US Policy and US influence in SubSaharan Africa. Somehow, the US Government significantly increased its assistance to the region, the emphasis with respect to overall Straetgic Policy (Diplomats that spent their career in SSA got promoted to higher levels within government than ever before and the US established AFRICOM) and its physical presence in the region but managed to lose ground on a number of strategic iniatives. This increased investment led to discordant efforts rather than coordinated policy initiatives while the Russian Government resurrected its Africa policy and achieved results that it not seen since the early 1960's via a a rather creative hybrid model.
I think the coup in Niger represents a nadir with respect to US Policy and US influence in SubSaharan Africa. Somehow, the US Government significantly increased its assistance to the region, the emphasis with respect to overall Straetgic Policy (Diplomats that spent their career in SSA got promoted to higher levels within government than ever before and the US established AFRICOM) and its physical presence in the region but managed to lose ground on a number of strategic iniatives. This increased investment led to discordant efforts rather than coordinated policy initiatives while the Russian Government resurrected its Africa policy and achieved results that it not seen since the early 1960's via a a rather creative hybrid model.