Under the cover of night, Niger’s junta has unveiled a freshly formed government, asserting its authority in a calculated move before a pivotal summit scheduled for Thursday. The gathering of West African leaders in Nigeria carries the weight of a crucial decision – to outline a strategic plan for Niger, where military leaders have stubbornly clung to power despite the looming threat of force from the regional coalition.
Since the startling seizure of power on July 26 that sent shockwaves through the region, the resolute junta has defied diplomatic advances and dismissed the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) deadline of August 6th to reinstate the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum.
Mahamane Roufai Laouali, identified as the “Secretary General of the Government,” revealed a list of 21 names on state television, leaving their intentions largely ambiguous. Notably, three coup leaders were designated as ministers of defense, interior, and sports. Former Finance Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine, previously named prime minister, now takes on the role of finance minister in the new government.
The previous government in Niger comprised 43 ministers, none of whom were military officials.
Amid this tense situation, concerns have arisen over the well-being of ousted president Mohamed Bazoum and his family, with reports indicating their detention at the presidential residence without basic necessities. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, has echoed the call for their immediate release and the reinstatement of Bazoum as Head of State.
The meeting in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, carries the potential to shift the dynamics of the standoff. ECOWAS leaders are poised to determine their next course of action, which could encompass military intervention, a step viewed by an ECOWAS official as a measure of last resort.
In neighbouring Senegal, opinions on potential military intervention vary. While some, like Lansanna Diedhiou, endorse action in the name of peace and unity within the African family, others, like Cheikh Niang, express concerns over the impact on regional relationships and solidarity.
Efforts at dialogue have not been abandoned, as envoys from Nigerian President and ECOWAS Chair Bola Tinubu engaged with coup leaders in Niamey, offering a glimmer of hope for a potential resolution. Yet, any escalation could further destabilize the impoverished Sahel region of West Africa, already grappling with an enduring Islamist insurgency and widespread hunger.
What initially stemmed from internal political dynamics has now escalated into an intricate international entanglement, drawing pressure from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and Western nations for the junta to step down. Nearby military governments in Mali and Burkina Faso stand in defense of Niger’s coup leaders, complicating matters.
Questions surrounding the fate of the United States’ military presence in Niger have also arisen, given its significance in combating Islamist militants in the Sahel region.
Adding complexity is the potential involvement of Russia’s Wagner Group, designated by the U.S. as a transnational criminal organization. The junta’s potential collaboration with Wagner Group raises eyebrows, especially considering their leader’s endorsement of the coup as a means to restore order.
Tensions further escalated when Niger accused France of violating its airspace, attacking a military camp, and releasing “terrorists” to undermine the nation. France promptly denied these allegations.
All eyes are now on ECOWAS, poised to make a critical choice between dialogue and force as the means to restore democracy in Niger. The world watches, awaiting the outcome of this momentous decision.
