The head of Niger’s presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tiani, appeared on state television on Friday, announcing himself as the president of the transitional council that seized power in a coup on Wednesday.
The coup, initiated by the presidential guard, resulted in the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum at the presidential palace. A group of soldiers later announced on state television that they had stripped Bazoum of power.
Colonel Amadou Abdramane, who declared the coup, cited deteriorating security and bad governance as the reasons behind the military’s action.
Tiani echoed the concerns about security and criticized the lack of cooperation from military governments in Burkina Faso and Mali in combating regional insurgencies.
Insecurity has plagued Niger since Bazoum’s election in 2021, as jihadist groups rooted in Mali since 2012 gained ground, causing thousands of deaths and displacing over 6 million people across the Sahel.
The international community has expressed serious concern over the coup’s implications for democracy and the fight against jihadist militants in the region. Both France, the former colonial power, and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS have called for Bazoum’s immediate release and the restoration of constitutional order.
As Niger grapples with the consequences of the coup, questions arise about the country’s future and the potential threat to democratic progress. The coup marks the seventh in West and Central Africa since 2020, raising alarming concerns about the stability and governance in the region.
The involvement of Russia and its Wagner Group private army has been a subject of speculation, especially after juntas in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso grew closer to Russia in recent years, distancing themselves from traditional Western allies.
While the United States denies any credible indications of Russian involvement in the Niger coup, the international community remains vigilant about the situation and its potential ramifications.
The coup has caused chaos in Niger, with supporters of the takeover ransacking and setting fire to the ruling party’s headquarters in Niamey. The demonstrations reflect a growing wave of anti-French sentiment in the Sahel region, where resentment towards former colonial power France and its influence has been mounting.
The United Nations has suspended its humanitarian operations in Niger, compounding the challenges faced by the nation, already grappling with escalating violence, socio-economic difficulties, and climate change.
The military coup raises concerns about the country’s ability to combat insecurity and restore democratic order. With democratic forces called to resist the power grab, the situation remains uncertain, and political and security elites are debating their next steps.
As the world watches, the fate of Niger hangs in the balance, and the international community grapples with how to respond to the crisis. The coup’s implications for regional stability, counterinsurgency efforts, and democratic governance underscore the urgency of finding a resolution to restore peace and democratic norms in Niger.
