Preamble
On Wednesday, 26th July, 2023 wilful soldiers detained President Mohamed Bazoum at his official residence in the capital Niamey. They declared seizure of power in a coup due to Niger’s decline in security.
Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane said in a statement, “The defence and security forces … have decided to put an end to the regime you are familiar with … This follows the continuous deterioration of the security situation, the bad social and economic management.” The leaders of the coup announced the closure of the country’s borders.
The commander of the presidential guards, General Abdourahmane “Omar” Tchiani self appointed himself as the head of the Niger’s new military government.
Credit: BBC
Tchiani is from Niger’s western region of Tillaberic- a main recruitment area for the army – and close to the border with Mali.
According to Reuters, he was the first officer on site when a French flight crashed near Bilma in northern Niger in 1989 due to a suitcase bomb explosion. All 170 people on board died.
Interventions by ECOWAS
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made a demand that Bazoum be returned to power within a week. It vowed that, “all measures” to restore constitutional order would be taken should the military fail to hand over power. ECOWAS said in a statement “Such measures may include the use of force for this effect.”
ECOWAS also struck financial sanctions on the coup leaders and the country, freezing “all commercial and financial transactions” between member states and Niger.
On Wednesday, 2nd August, 2023, the organization of the African country sent a representative to Niger, led by former Nigerian military leader Abdulsalami Abubakar, to have a discussion with the military government for a possible resolution.
On the same day, General Abdourahmane Tchiani condemned sanctions given by the leaders of West African organization as “illegal” and “inhumane” and urged his countrymen to be ever prepared to defend their nation in a televised address.
President Vladimir Putin warned ECOWAS of military intervention and “stressed the importance of a peaceful resolution of the situation for a more stable Sahel,” Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita said after a phone call with the Russian president. The Kremlin said in a statement that the call was established by Mali.
Video Credit : African Diaspora News Channel
On Saturday, 12th August, 2023, ECOWAS members were due to meet in Accra, Ghana, to discuss how to resolve the Niger calamity after they agreed to deploying a stand-by force, but the meeting was suspended sine die due to “technical reasons”.
A week after, (i.e. Saturday, 19th August, 2023) an ECOWAS delegation held talks with military government leader Tchiani and met with Bazoum, the first time foreign officials have seen the toppled leader in weeks. Niger’s governing military council confirmed the arrival of the ECOWAS representatives, headed by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Credit: Aljazeera
After meeting, the delegation, Tchiani gave a three-year transition of power and warned that any attack on the country would “not be a walk in the park” for those involved.
Speaking on national television, he gave no details on the potential transition, saying only that the principles for the move would be decided within 30 days at a dialogue to be hosted by the ruling military council.
Credit: AFP
ECOWAS, however rejected the three-year time-frame after talks on Sunday, 20th August, 2023.
“ECOWAS is not accepting any prolonged transition again in the region. They just have to get ready to hand over in the shortest possible time,” Abdel-Fatau Musah, the bloc’s commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, informed the BBC.
He also said the “military aspect is very much on”, the earlier they give power back to civilians and concentrate on their primary responsibility that is defending the territorial integrity of Niger, the better for them.”
Image Source : BBC
Listen to what is driving the power struggle in Niger ( Credit : Aljazeera)
Table of Contents
About Author
