NIGERIEN President Mohamed Bazoum was removed from power in a military coup announced on national television late on Wednesday. A group of soldiers, led by Colo
nel Amadou Abdramane
, declared the decision to end the current regime citing concerns over the deteriorating security situation and governance in the West African nation.
In a televised statement, Colonel Abdramane, flanked by nine other officers, disclosed that Niger’s borders have been closed, a nationwide curfew has been imposed, and all republican institutions have been suspended. The soldiers asserted that they would respect President Bazoum’s safety, while cautioning against any foreign intervention in the country’s affairs.
This marks the seventh coup in the West and Central Africa region since 2020, and its implications could pose challenges for Western countries’ efforts to combat the jihadist insurgency prevalent in the Sahel region, which has expanded from Mali over the past decade.
Niger, a land-locked country and a former French colony, has been a crucial partner for Western powers in the fight against insurgencies in the region. However, the recent coups in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have strained relations, leading to growing acrimony. Niger has also been a significant ally for the European Union in tackling irregular migration from sub-Saharan Africa.
France, which had stationed troops in Niger following strained relations with interim authorities in Mali, and had withdrawn special forces from Burkina Faso amid similar tensions, has relied on Bazoum’s leadership to maintain stability in the Sahel.
Mohamed Bazoum’s election was historically significant, as it marked the first democratic transition of power in Niger, a country that has experienced four military coups since gaining independence from France in 1960.
Western countries, including the United States and Germany, have invested considerable resources to bolster Niger’s security, considering Bazoum as a key ally in the region. However, the military coup could open doors for other actors, such as Russia, to extend their influence in Niger.
Earlier on Wednesday, General Omar Tchiani and the presidential guards took control of the presidency, prompting regional leaders to mediate swiftly to prevent the coup. The failure to prevent violent attacks o
n towns and villages has fuelled frustrations, leading to several coups in Mali and Burk
ina Faso since 2020, along with one in Guinea in 2021, further contributing to instability in the region.
The African Union and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS condemned the attempted coup, with the president of neighbouring Benin, Patrice Talon, visiting Niger to assess the situation and discuss measures to restore constitutional order.
The international community, including the United States, European Union, and United Nations, expressed concern over the events and condemned the coup. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasised that Niger’s economic and security partnership with the United States depended on the continuation of democratic governance.
As the situation unfolds, the future of Niger’s leadership and its implications for regional stability remain uncertain. The international community closely watches the developments in the West African nation, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
