Nations Take Sides Amid Niger Coup

Volume 19: Issue 1

On the 26th of July, Mohamed Bazoum, the president of the democratically elected government of Niger, a west African state, was overthrown and replaced by a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani. Tchiani, commander of the presidential guards, seized power and detained the president. Military forces loyal to the president assembled to take back power, but later that day decided to back the coup leader. Air Force Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane declared the formation of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland and the removal of the former President Bazoum. The National Council, led by Tchiani and with Abdramane as its spokesperson, announced the dissolution of the constitution, the banning of political parties, and the closing of Niger’s borders. 

The coup resulted in turmoil in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is both an economic and military international organization. Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea were suspended from the ECOWAS due to their support for the junta (committee of military leaders). The alliance threatened military intervention if the junta didn’t release Bazoum within a week. Mali and Burkina Faso pledged to defend Niger in the case of an invasion. Niger violated the deadline, and the organization readied its military but took no action. It remains to be seen if the ECOWAS will follow up on their threat. Nigeria, the military and economic backbone of the organization, is experiencing its own domestic issues. President Bola Tinubu won a recent election with 36.6% of the vote, but the results were immediately contested by rival candidates. 

The takeover of the government occurred at a pivotal moment for West Africa. France, the US, and Russia’s Wagner Group private military army all have forces stationed in the region. France has clung to its former colonies in the Sahara long after they gained independence in the 1950s and 60s. The country still keeps military units in countries including Niger not only in order to combat Islamist militants, but also to safeguard resource extraction back to France. The junta condemned the presence of the 1500 French soldiers and said France wanted to destabilize Niger. The junta ended all military agreements with France, in a move reminiscent of when Mali and Burkina Faso made French troops leave. Another ally Niger may still have is Wagner. The mercenary organization retains influence in Africa despite a recent plane crash that killed its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin and other key Wagner figures under suspicious circumstances. The crash followed Wagner’s march to Moscow and condemnation of Russia’s military leadership. Pro-coup protestors marched in support of the junta and of Wagner following the declaration of ECOWAS’s ultimatum. Before fighting with Russia and aiding in the unlawful invasion of Ukraine, Wagner primarily operated in Africa, typically guaranteeing security to countries in exchange for access to natural resources, often mines. Russia’s precise relationship with Wagner is uncertain, leading to speculation as to what extent Russia supports Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.

The United States has so far carefully avoided declaring the junta’s coup as a coup. Such an announcement would require the US to withdraw aid from Niger, a developing country, and would put pressure on the US to push for a military intervention. The 1100 American troops in Niger add an additional layer of complexity to the situation. Despite this, the US still diplomatically backs France and ECOWAS. The situation remains tense, nearly two months after the coup.