How Long Will Niger Wait for the Junta to Reinstate Democracy?

The Presidential Guard in Niger launched a coup on July 26, 2023, and this led to President Mohamed Bazoum and his family being detained. After these happenings, senior officers from various branches of the Defence and Security Forces (FDS) formed a junta named the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) and announced the seizure of power on a televised broadcast.

However, following the coup of the president, lots of citizens staged peaceful demonstrations in support of the CNSP. However, Nigerien Armed Forces said they wouldn't go into a struggle with the CNSP but would make sure that the President and his family were safe.

The coup was internationally condemned by stakeholders like the United States, France, the European Union, and ECOWAS. Due to this, the ECOWAS had a summit in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, to talk about the coup that happened in Niger, and they threatened sanctions to pressure the junta to return power to Bazoum in a one-week ultimatum. The West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) imposed immediate sanctions and froze Nigerien state assets. 

Considering the coup that occurred in Niger on July 26, 2023, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali declared their support for the Nigerian coup and said they would not declare sanctions on Niger. It didn't stop there, as Burkina Faso and Mali released a joint statement warning any country not to be involved in the coup or else it was going to be a declaration of war against the two countries.

Although the General Abdourahamane Tiani said they would return Niger to democracy after three years of rule.

Niger Violence and Conflict Trends

Niger has been having security challenges in the west; it's facing the Sahelian insurgency, which is driven by IS Sahel and the al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIm, while the southern part of Niger is affected by the ISWAP and Boko Haram insurgencies. The central Tahoua region of the country is combating both banditry and IS Sahel militancy. 

In Maradi, along the southern border with Nigeria, bandits are also active. The Agadez region is faced with gold and smuggling routes that lead to Libya, Algeria, and Chad, which are also experiencing gunmen attacks, of which Chadian and Sudanese rebels, drug traffickers, and criminal gangs are contributing to the banditry happening in the rural areas.

Even with all these issues, Niger is still better than its neighbours. This insurgency is what the junta saw that made them organize a coup to address all the long-lasting issues Nigeriens face.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Niger a Country?

Niger, officially the Republic of Niger or French République du Niger, is a western African landlocked country. It is bounded on the northwest by Algeria, on the northeast by Libya, on the east by Chad, on the south by Nigeria and Benin, and on the west by Burkina Faso and Mali.

What is Niger?

Niger, officially the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa.

What Is the Coup?

A coup d'état, also called a coup, is the sudden, violent overthrow of an existing government by a small group.