Nah, they were even more gung-ho about the invasion than regular Russians.

Next elections weren't supposed to be until 2025. I hope the military government moves that up.

Semi-related, the idea that a constitution can be suspended via unilateral action in the first place fascinates me. It seems like it relies on weak and dysfunctional courts in order to work.

It seems the coup government enjoys a lot of popular support, as opposed to the previously "elected" government.

I fully expect it to if they publicly frame it as a response to widespread grievances but they'll have to quickly move to address them lest they lose that support. Junta and "protest" generally don't mix.

branded as military coups by the West are sometimes socialist revolutions led by the military

True, but Sankara seized powers from other military rulers, not a civilian government. Chavez also won elections before rewriting the Constitution. The "military coups" in Venezuela were generally to ensure democratic institutions and processes were followed since the Venezuelan right wing engages in subverting Bolivaran Constituonal processes.

Any long-term solution to Niger's issues has to come from within the people of Niger, of course.

I expect that a status quo change is likely only on a geopolitical scale and that once the excitement of a change in government dies down the military will run into and perpetuate much the same issues.

I only really trust China to be able to invest and trade with the Global South without being exploitative (even if they aren't doing so out of altruism).

And of course, the materials that go into solar panels and other renewable tech (lithium ion batteries) also appear out of thin air and isn't extracted in environmentally degrading ways...

Well duh? Are they nationalizing all carbon emitting industries to begin a managed decline of the industry or are they hoping economic magic and wishful thinking will work?

We KNOW that the French definitely don't have the interest of the Nigerian people at heart. (ask more if this isn't clear).

Of course. I took that for granted that a former European colonizer wouldn't.

the most demonstrable action has been to cut off exports of uranium to France, putting the government of Niger in the driver's seat to control that. Now we wait (months, years?) to see if they use that to benefit their people.

They could easily switch to exporting to a country in a different ideological camp. International relations is always about power - no country behaves altruistically on the world stage.

In all earnestness, as someone who isn't too aware of Nigerian politics - why shouldn't the elected government be helped back into power? What reasons do we have to believe that the junta has the best interests of the Nigerian working class more than the previous regime?

Many of humanity's problems centered around limited resources would be alleviated by simply having fewer people.

They would also be alleviated through an economic system based on the equitable division of resources according to human need instead of the exploitation of them according to personal gain. Scarcity is enforced artificially.

We throw away 50 percent of edible food, so how is it that the problem is too many people?

We have more empty homes than homeless, so how is it that the problem is too many people?

It would still suit their national campaign

Literally. Oh, it's too long to do it one by one? Maybe prioritize then? Confirm 2-3 of the biggest promotions in order to prevent the Senate from abdicating it's Constitutional responsibility and ceding control of the military entirely to the executive.

I really don't care about US military readiness but I do value checks and balances, and right now the Senate is refusing to serve as one.