When it comes to sudden and often violent changes in government, there is a saying that suggests that it is not essential who carried out the event, but who paid for it. The immediate future for Niger is looking bleak. The Sahel will suffer, as will Nigeria and Europe.
The events in Niamey that occurred on July 26th caught some analysts by surprise but if one looks at the situation in the Sahel as a whole one should not have been.
There are times when confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate are not spectacular but often provide insights into major national security challenges for the United States. Often major concerns have a prominent role. However, there are times when other crisis spots are omitted.