Niger Coup: What we know so far

Niger has been at the center of news headlines recently due to an ongoing coup that began on July 26. As of Thursday, August 3, a military had taken control of the country, and President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically elected, is currently being held by the military.

Niger, the largest landlocked country in Africa situated in the Sahel region, was ironically celebrating its independence on August 3 amidst the turmoil and unrest it is experiencing.

The coup was initiated by the Niger army, who detained President Bazoum at his official residence. On national television, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, the Niger army spokesperson, declared that they were taking over the government and putting an end to the previous regime.

In response to the coup, various countries have evacuated their nationals from Niger. Italy and France have already carried out evacuation operations, and the United States has ordered an evacuation of their embassy staff.

President Bazoum, despite being detained, expressed his determination to restore democratic governance through his Twitter account, assuring that the hard-won achievements of the nation will be safeguarded.

However, tensions escalated further when General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guard, declared himself the leader of the transitional government, rejecting President Bazoum's authority.

This political instability has led to protests, with demonstrators gathering at the French embassy premises and expressing their support for Russia while expressing discontent towards France. The situation remains tense and uncertain.

In response to the coup, international organizations, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), have demanded the release of President Bazoum. ECOWAS issued a one-week ultimatum, while the AU set a 15-day deadline for the military to release him.

The situation has also led to economic repercussions, with Nigeria cutting off electricity supply to Niger as part of ECOWAS sanctions. As a result, many cities in Niger are experiencing blackouts. However, neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Mali do not support these sanctions and have warned against any military intervention from international bodies, asserting it would be considered an act of war against their nations.

Niger's current state adds to its history of past coups, having experienced similar events in 1974, 1996, 1999, and 2010. As the situation continues to unfold, the international community watches closely, hoping for a peaceful resolution and a return to democratic governance in the West-African nation.

Credit: The New Times