Share this page!

Enter Twitter Thread URL to Unroll

Needs to be the full URL like: https://twitter.com/threadreaderapp/status/1644127596119195649

How to get URL link on Twitter App

  1. On the Twitter thread, click on or icon on the bottom
  2. Click again on or Share Via icon
  3. Click on Copy Link to Tweet
  4. Paste it above and click "Unroll Thread"!
  5. More info at Twitter Help
Alastair Thompson Profile picture
@althecat
Aug 7 • 47 tweets • 20 min read Twitter logo Read on Twitter
#Niger/#NigerCoup/#WestAfrica/#ECOWAS Crisis youtube survey thread. This is a very fast moving crisis and the threat of war breaking out is not entirely off the table yet.

Earlier reports over the weekend that the Senate in Nigeria would not approve Nigeria's President Tinubu… https://t.co/edlop1u3dKtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Video #2 - @France24_en Analysis: ECOWAS credibility at risk over Niger intervention >> << a clip from a fresh @France24 english report on the crisis - the full video of this segment (broadcast Saturday) is here >> https://t.co/YqsTHjYHbe

Video#3 -… https://t.co/4HXg8xMyku

twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@France24_en @FRANCE24 Video #4 DW (German English Channel) report with a live cross to Lagos, Nigeria. The report addresses the fact that the deadline given by ECOWAS has now expired, and that everyone is now waiting for a statement from ECOWAS.


Personally I would also like to… https://t.co/fyED26Ehvy
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@France24_en @FRANCE24 So far this (quoted tweet) >> is the only tweet issued by eitherAU account so far - and it dates back to July 26th and the beginning of the crisis. It refers to this press release which calls for condemnation of the coup, not intervention. ECOWAS is… https://t.co/5TAnWcuIsq https://t.co/c9L6bclN7N
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Image
@France24_en @FRANCE24 ECOWAS Defence & Security is on twitter here >> @ecowas_cedeao and has just tweeted that it is holding another meeting today, following expiry of its deadline to discuss what to do next. https://t.co/RcMVhKAqAV
Image
@France24_en @FRANCE24 @ecowas_cedeao BBC News is reporting here >> its another very brief report lacking substance - will check on @BBCWorldService as they probably have something better. The report includes another live cross to Nigeria.
@France24_en @FRANCE24 @ecowas_cedeao @bbcworldservice Aljazeera appears to have the first slightly more substantive report for today (8 minutes) here >>
- the report begins re-quoting the Niger Junta saying that there will be an "Energetic and Instantaneous Response" should anyone breach Niger's airspace.
-… https://t.co/UYPmcJsYc3 https://t.co/n4oZCvI698
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Image
@France24_en @FRANCE24 @ecowas_cedeao @bbcworldservice .@Aljazeera's correspondent is also in Dakar Senegal. Senegal has indicated support for an intervention.
Senior correspondent @stratfordch's report begins here >> and basically says that no-one should expect any swift miltary intervention to take place. https://t.co/BIDoq5RKMq
Image
Stratford's report is fairly comprehensive on detail and highlights several developments.
His headline sit-rep observation refers to the Nigerian Senate's opposition to intervention, pointing out that lots of other ECOWAS countries also need to go through similar processes to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
This is particularly the case inside Nigeria which has been battling terror now for a long time.
Adding to this point on the domestic Nigerian vantage point. Nigerian President Tinubu does not have a strong mandate to be starting regional wars, having:
a) only just assumed… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
A @TwitterSpace held last night (thread linked below in quoted thread) included a bunch of Nigerian perspectives on the war - both domestic and diaspora on this and the issue of Tinubu there were several observers who thought it very unlikely that Tinubu would seek to start a war… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Returning to the @AJEnglish report from this morning . There remains very little news from Paris - no statement from the Elysee yet it seems [Direct Link >> ] . The only real news is that the French Govt. has suspended aid payments to Burkina Faso - who… https://t.co/X12sbqnAWT
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@AJEnglish The final segment moves to the US and a conversation with Janet McElligott a GHWB era republican with a seemingly very interesting record in what appears to be private diplomacy & international business [for want of a better description - screenshot below from her linked in… https://t.co/CFwk3CXFxWtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Image
Image
@AJEnglish [Direct link to Janet McElligott's segment here>> ]

She says the role of ECOWAS has evolved over the decades since it was set up initially to be an economic and trading and cooperation group.
"It has become a kind of policeman because things are… https://t.co/L3OKs0CCYL
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@AJEnglish I'm now going back a few days to the beginning of the crisis which took place on July 26th [Ref: ]

UNSG Guterres issued a statement on July 27th and Stéphane Dujarric held a briefing >> leading with Niger https://t.co/191fulL6sE

ECOWAS issued its one… https://t.co/vSsxwazSlc https://t.co/TvH87fSaXhfr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_d%27…

twitter.com/i/web/status/1…



Image
Image
Image
Image
@AJEnglish This has just dropped on the Niger story - an interview with a US military analyst on @dwnews (Germany)

Why is instability in Niger a problem for the US and its allies? | DW News via @YouTube
@AJEnglish @dwnews @YouTube The second segment in this is a live report from inside Niger's capital Niamey.
@AJEnglish @dwnews @YouTube Third segment: Analyst says that there is no consensus within ECOWAS for an intervention.
@AJEnglish @dwnews @YouTube This is very good.
@AJEnglish @dwnews @YouTube This bit in particular.
@AJEnglish @dwnews @YouTube [Meta observation] after watching the somewhat enlightened previous video @youtube served me this rather old video , randomly. How does this guy know so much about Vladimir Putin? Why did anyone make this video?
@AJEnglish @dwnews @YouTube I watched this earlier, its certainly striking features @GiorgiaMeloni
.@France24_fr report on today's developments from Gregor Thompson france24.com/en/africa/2023…
And @Channel4News has now joined the media scrum around Niger,
New report from @dwnews
Niger junta ignores ECOWAS deadline to restore civilian rule | DW News via @YouTube
Guardian wrap up following US State Dept's Victoria Nuland's visit to Niamey. While it's never a good sign when Victoria Nuland turns up in a potential conflict zone, in this case the indications remain that the US does not wish to see this conflict become hot.

Junta leaders in… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Here is the transcript of Victoria Nuland's call with reporters yesterday. state.gov/acting-deputy-…
From @France24English
New update: Niger Junta is refusing to allow an ECOWAS delegation to visit.
This and the previous report point towards a sanctions regime being most probably the response to the Niger Coup. Niger's land locked status and dependency on Nigerian electricity in particular makes them highly vulnerable to sanctions.
TRT News (Turkey) "West African leaders to meet Thursday after Niger junta defies deadline "
This UN press briefing at UNHQ from 2nd August -was held shortly after the ECOWAS decision was taken to deliver an ultimatum to Niger's Junta on 30 July in Dakar. The briefer is from the @UN_UNOWAS (West Africa and the Sahel) and conducted at the request of the UN NYC press… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@UN_UNOWAS IMO it is rather important as the @UN_UNOWAS Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), Leonardo Santos Simão attended the meeting when the ECOWAS decision to propose a possible intervention was made. It is not clear to me why a UN official would… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@UN_UNOWAS The press corps asked a lot a tricky questions in the press conference, seemingly confused as I am as to why there was such a swift turn towards using force to displace a miltary junta by force. With the benefit of hindsight this was a significant mistake in diplomacy.
@UN_UNOWAS These two links are to the initial UN briefings at the beginning of the coup which took place on 26th July. Both with @UN_Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric
1. 27th July
2. 28th July https://t.co/jTJhJoovoo
The ECOWAS decision to declare deadline for the… https://t.co/r1DxccGoHf

twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
This is a direct link to a question from the @Aljazeera UN reporter James Bays @baysontheroad) In the question he notes that the Russia-Africa sumit is underway at the time

It's a good question and one wonders whether this event - which generated… https://t.co/8xprptlJi3
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@AlJazeera @baysontheroad In his answer @UN_Spokesperson refers to a statement made by the UNSG @AntonioGutteres on 26th July which is here >> + an image below. It is pretty anodyne. https://t.co/OjjqsqlK6apress.un.org/en/2023/sgsm21…
Image
@AlJazeera @baysontheroad @UN_Spokesperson @AntonioGutteres Here's @AlJazeera's latest report on the crisis - focussing on the decision by the Niger Junta not to allow a delegation from ECOWAS to come to Niamey for talks.

This rather proves the point I have been discussing in the last few tweets in this thread… https://t.co/R7epyj0YWw
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@AlJazeera @baysontheroad @UN_Spokesperson @AntonioGutteres IMO a clear unambiguous rejection of military action to resolve this situation ought to be the outcome from the ECOWAS meeting on Thursday.

There are multiple countries in West Africa who would be impacted should there be a use of military force and millions of civillians… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
One final remark: If I were in West Africa at the moment I would want to also see unequivocal statements form the United States and France that they do not want a military intervention by ECOWAS. This is necessary as there remains widespread suspicion in the region that Nigerian… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
US State Dept briefing today. Just held, leads off with questions on Niger and an exchange with @apdiplowriter youtube.com/live/7-I55_Ost…
@APDiploWriter The @StateDept Spokesperson said that in relation to the issue of potential ECOWAS intervention in Niger, the US position remains in support of a diplomatic solution - not withstanding the lack of progress made by Victoria Nuland yesterday, and the decision not to allow ECOWAS… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@APDiploWriter @StateDept This is a positive development. President Tinubu as ECOWAS chair has publicly committed to pursuing a diplomatic path to resolve the #NigerCrisis

Link: https://t.co/mwsTTJOSCmfrance24.com/en/africa/2023…
Image
@APDiploWriter @StateDept This is quite good. An interview with a sanguine American, « they’re not listening to us (the coup plotters) » he says suggesting the diplomatic job needs to be done by someone else
@APDiploWriter @StateDept And this is truly terrible, at one point the narrator Michael Clarke calls the mineral wealth of the Sahel « the common heritage of the world ».
@APDiploWriter @StateDept (This @youtube centric #NigerCrisis research THREAD continues here in a new THREAD >> )
@APDiploWriter @StateDept @YouTube /ends

@Threadreaderapp unroll

• • •

Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to force a refresh
　

Keep Current with Alastair Thompson

Alastair Thompson Profile picture

Stay in touch and get notified when new unrolls are available from this author!

Read all threads

This Thread may be Removed Anytime!

PDF

Twitter may remove this content at anytime! Save it as PDF for later use!

Try unrolling a thread yourself!

how to unroll video
  1. Follow @ThreadReaderApp to mention us!

  2. From a Twitter thread mention us with a keyword "unroll"
@threadreaderapp unroll

Practice here first or read more on our help page!

More from @althecat

Alastair Thompson Profile picture
Aug 6
Comprehensive report here below in quoted tweet from @jcokechukwu - a morning update on the Niger war situation.

Sounds like the threat of war is now over.

Nigeria’s president was told no by the Nigeria senate to an ECOWAS “intervention” yesterday. Now Algeria and Chad have… https://t.co/ADKTWiFzwUtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
And from @aljazeera France agrees to seek a diplomatic solution.

Also confirms much of what is in the post above.

Seems to me that the African Union ought to be active in the diplomacy that follows. “African solutions to African problems.”

The… https://t.co/JfrkM00jJw
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
@AlJazeera Looked at in the round the issues in West Africa have clear roots in the colonial crimes of successive Western developed world governments in support of “corporate interests” which for a long time has been a synonym for “national interests” in the European, Anglos-phone, and… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Read 4 tweets
Alastair Thompson Profile picture
Aug 5
#ExtremeWeather #DesertRain update.

Six days later this Great Sahara Desert rain event is not weakening much yet it seems.

That said. The latest detailed forecast does show it weakening beyond the 13th of August though. By then the event would have run for two weeks. The… https://t.co/tnSHpLo8Wl https://t.co/6SnhemLCkytwitter.com/i/web/status/1…

Image
That said the underlying cause - the high pressure circulation over west of Kerela India is still pumping.
And the atmospheric water vapour picture (Precipitable Water - i.e. atmospheric water vapour that could produce rain) remains spectacular.
Read 12 tweets
Alastair Thompson Profile picture
Jul 31
#ExtremeWeather #DesertRain update.

Ok.... so while looking at this more closely - i.e. a mystery of sorts in terms of predictive weather model functionality (the thread explains - but feel free to ask questions)

The new rainfall forecasts related to the intensity of the… https://t.co/xnvdJ1muKdtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
This is what happened...... the models show significant rain across all of Sudan. Which is unprecedented in the 3 years I have been focussed on the weather in the Horn. What the flooding impacts of this may be, I do not know. It depends how long the phenomena lasts for. But the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
^^ not sure why that tweet has a formatting error not showing the plot in the already tweeted data tweet. But OK.... here it is. Image
Read 17 tweets
Alastair Thompson Profile picture
Jul 29
This thread has been updated.....

The end of this spectacular low system in the North Atlantic is finally about to begin. Thr quoted thread tells the remarkable story of unusual subtropical storm #Don and its role in this remarkable weather assembly - the dramatic part of which… https://t.co/ZJBVxbqtSJtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
August 1 update on the North Atlantic Weather Assembly. Its remaining largely intact. Two Tropical disturbances are feeding it from the West and central Atlantic. Continued flows of water south over Canada Iceland are continuing to feed it. The low circulation over New Foundland… https://t.co/NXBqI1SdEAtwitter.com/i/web/status/1…
The low is forming around Scandinavia across the North sea and the Baltic. Flows of presumably cold air are coming south down the coast or Norway. Eventually it will close and become a huge low circulation covering all of Europe. Image
Read 6 tweets
Alastair Thompson Profile picture
Jul 28
Not sure weather assembly is a technical term. But I think it should be. As in "this #Don weather assembly in the North Atlantic is extraordinary visually. https://t.co/1ijtyIZdzb
Closeup from this evening.
And another one.... this time showing impact on Western Europe.
Read 14 tweets
Alastair Thompson Profile picture
Jul 20
"Meta announced Tuesday that its LLM LLaMA 2 will be accessible on Microsoft’s Azure platform."

"Apple is testing an AI chatbot but has no idea what to do with it" https://t.co/8dFVtbbqvs

The plethora of AI systems being deployed keeps growing which may… https://t.co/e0LOzF0rfrtheverge.com/2023/7/19/2380…
theverge.com/2023/7/19/2380…
twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
And this is problematic because IMO the financial threat to the news industry's viability is at least as great and quite likely significantly greater than platform (Yahoo FB and Google +++ ) and an entire ecocystem of programmatic AI powered advertising technology companies.

It… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Media companies even media giants will not have the resources to compete with Microsoft, Google, META et al.

A world without reliable news sources and flooded with AI generated and distributed misinformation is a nightmare. Government - especially democratic government is… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Read 7 tweets

Did Thread Reader help you today?

Support us! We are indie developers!

This site is made by just two indie developers on a laptop doing marketing, support and development! Read more about the story.

Become a Premium Member ($3/month or $30/year) and get exclusive features!

Become Premium

Don't want to be a Premium member but still want to support us?

Make a small donation by buying us coffee ($5) or help with server cost ($10)

Donate via Paypal

Or Donate anonymously using crypto!

Ethereum

0xfe58350B80634f60Fa6Dc149a72b4DFbc17D341E copy

Bitcoin

3ATGMxNzCUFzxpMCHL5sWSt4DVtS8UqXpi copy

Thank you for your support!

Follow Us on Twitter!

Send Email!

:(