The military junta that seized power in Niger last week has made startling allegations, accusing former colonial power France of planning strikes to secure the release of detained President Mohamed Bazoum and reinstate the ousted government. While the French Foreign Ministry did not confirm or deny the accusation, it emphasized recognizing only Bazoum as the legitimate authority in the West African nation and prioritizing the protection of its citizens and interests there.
The international community, including the African Union, the U.N., and other powers, expressed condemnation of the military takeover, marking the seventh such incident in less than three years in West and Central Africa. This rise in military interventions has prompted some countries in the region to explore alternative alliances, with increasing interest in forging ties with Russia.
Recent reports of French plans to intervene emerged after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed sanctions on the junta, indicating the possibility of authorizing force to reinstate President Bazoum. Meanwhile, Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby flew to Niger over the weekend to mediate and shared images of a seemingly unharmed Bazoum, indicating efforts to find a peaceful resolution.
Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup plotters, asserted during a state television address that the ousted government had authorized France to carry out strikes on the presidency, citing a statement signed by Bazoum’s foreign minister, Hassoumi Massoudou, acting as prime minister. However, no evidence was provided to substantiate this claim, and Massoudou could not be reached for comment. The junta had previously warned against foreign attempts to extract Bazoum, fearing potential bloodshed and chaos.
The coup has raised security concerns in the region, especially given the presence of French and other foreign troops in Niger to aid in combating Islamist militants prevalent in the Sahel region.
Tensions escalated on Sunday when supporters of the junta burned French flags and attacked the French embassy in Niamey, the capital of Niger, leading to police intervention using tear gas.
The coup leaders cited poor governance and dissatisfaction with Bazoum’s approach to handling the Islamist threat as reasons for their actions. Interestingly, Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, welcomed the coup, offering support to restore order.
International stakeholders have closely monitored the situation in Niger, with Germany taking significant steps to express its stance. The German foreign ministry suspended all direct support payments to Niger’s central government until further notice and suspended bilateral development cooperation in response to the unfolding events.
As the world watches, the pressure mounts on the military junta in Niger. The duration of President Bazoum’s detention remains uncertain, and the nation, known as one of Africa’s poorest, faces the challenge of navigating these developments amidst the imposed sanctions. The coming days will determine the outcome of this delicate situation and its implications for Niger’s future.
