Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Coup De'eter Niger
Coup De'eter Niger
0 Introduction
from being a powerful human tool for survival, the defined cultural norms
and values also form the bases of existence of every civilised society, as
described by Thomas Hobbes, they bring order which in turn makes the
In pre-colonial Niger, these norms and values formed the basis upon
rulers were virtually the only institutions of governance that played critical
land and resources; guardians and symbols of cultural values and religious
(Aidelokhai, 2008).
which is inevitable could and should not be left alone, it, therefore, needs to
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and arranging peace-making meetings when matters get out of hand
controlled by certain unwritten laws which formed part of the general social
However, during the colonial era, there was a role change as the roles and
subjects.
had several periods - four -of military rule since its independence in 1960.
But since 2011, it has held three democratic elections, it saw former
Niger as a country Niger, which is located in the heart of the Sahel, has a
GDP. More than 10 million persons (41.8% of the population) were living
fleeing conflicts in Nigeria and Mali. As of August 31, 2022, the United
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Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) had identified 294,467
Context Mohamed Bazoum, the candidate of the party in power, was elected
facing a security crisis in the areas bordering Nigeria, Burkina Faso, and
Mali, where armed groups carry out repeated attacks against the security
2. Aim
3. Challenges
the Sahel. Niger, known for its production of uranium, is a hub for military
partners, such as the United States, which has praised Niger as a model of
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democracy. There are no doubts that the rise in insecurity and declining
socioeconomic progress.
in rural areas. High maternal and child mortality rates are major
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5. Political Instability: Niger has experienced periods of political
instability and coup attempts throughout its history. The country has
faces.
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It's important to note that the situation in Niger is complex and multi-
are ongoing to address these challenges and improve the well-being of the
population.
There are no doubts that the rise in insecurity and declining economic
foreign forces, especially from the US and France, and military bases in
Niger, the leadership has been unable to stop insurgent attacks. There are
well as Boko Haram operating in the country (Punch, 2023). These attacks
coup, waving Russian flags and chanting “Wagner”. This suggests that
some people in Niger believe the military, supported by Russia and the
the ethnicity and legitimacy of Bazoum were an issue during the last
election campaign. Bazoum is from Niger’s ethnic Arab minority and has
always been labeled as having foreign origins. This did not sit well within
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groups-even though Bazoum got about 56% of the vote and is from the
Also, the large number of foreign military troops and bases in the
country has not been well received by the military. They believe this
mining sector are another reason for its interest in security (The Cable,
2023).
drone base could make Niger a target for terrorists and increase instability.
In 2022, France and other European allies withdrew their forces from
denounced the increase in foreign forces (Cable, 2023). In the last four
years, there have been seven coup d’etats in the region. Three were
sanctions on these three countries, but nothing much has been done to deter.
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5. Prospect
in the coup will be held responsible for the safety of the President,
iii. The coup in Niger represents a new chapter in the unfolding tragedies
The coup also imposes a fresh burden on the prospect of peace and
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stability in the Sahel as the country has served as a buffer zone in the
have shown.
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viii. To avert further crises, ECOWAS, AU, and other multilateral
mobilization in Niger.
Laouali. Three generals who were members of the CNSP were named to
head the interior, defense and sports ministries. The heavy pressure from the
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delegation from the putschists, led by General Moussa Salaou Barmou,
visited Conakry to ask Guinea for support and was received by the head of
In the same vein, the ECOWAS had ordered its standby force to
reading the resolutions of the meeting. He also called on the African Union,
partner countries and institutions, to support the resolution taken by the sub-
regional body. ECOWAS said that all efforts made to dialogue with the
military junta in the Niger Republic have been defiantly rejected by the
Mohamed Bazoum and his family members. It then directed the Committee
standby force, with all its elements, towards restoring constitutional order in
Niger Republic has already been hit by the most severe regime of
blocked, and the country is very dependent on food imports, especially from
Nigeria, and that too has been blocked, as is the case with drugs. The cut of
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electricity supply from Nigeria, breaking a treaty obligation, has had a
patients are dying. The long history of fraternal relations between Nigeria
and Niger is unraveling fast, and much has happened in this regard within
Niger Republic is upset with Nigeria over the threat of an armed restoration
of the democratic order in the country, with the utilisation of the ECOWAS
Standby Force for this. The Nigeriens are screaming at the top of their
voices that this historical juncture is for the dismantling of French neo-
The narrative is presenting ECOWAS and Nigeria as the new lap dogs of
French and American imperialism. Nigeria has not changed its position of
2023).
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Niger Republic, like many countries, has experienced various
ethnic groups, with the Hausa, Zarma, Tuareg, and Fulani being
Maghreb (AQIM) and its affiliates. These groups have carried out
the region.
cultural representation.
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iv. Resource Scarcity and Competition: Niger faces challenges
organizations, regional partnerships, and local initiatives can all play a role
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8. Impact of Conflict
Citizens living in the border towns and villages between the Niger
Republic and Nigeria have started feeling the impact of the border closure.
trucks are trapped, while thousands of petty traders at the borders might lose
Thus, with the current happenings in the West African region, the
Nigeria had issued a one-week ultimatum to the military junta in the Niger
Republic to restore the ousted President Bazoum back to power or the junta
will be forced out. Though the one-week ultimatum had elapsed, since, the
leaders of the military junta remained adamant and vowed that any attempt
to use force against them will be resisted with the same force.
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might force the coupists to restore back democracy in the country. One such
action was the closure of all borders between ECOWAS states and Niger. A
different borders with Niger. It was learnt that many trucks were trapped at
Association, Nasiru Salami, remarked that goods worth N300 million were
onions and other perishable food items heading to Nigeria and other West
“Three days after the coup took place, over 100 trucks carrying onions and
other agricultural products were trapped. Currently, the trucks trapped there
are running into thousands. A truck of onions containing about 300 bags is
and those from Niger in Nigeria have appealed to President Tinubu to lift
the ban on the border closure in order to allow them entry into their
respective countries and reunite with their family members. Many of the
drivers interviewed by the Nigerian Tribune disclosed that they have spent
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over one week at the border since the closure. For instance, Abubakar
Usman, a tanker driver, revealed that since he drove his truck to Niamey,
the capital of the Niger Republic on July 20, he could not cross the border.
Kandadji Dam Project and the dismissal of workers. This is a result of the
imposing sanctions on Niger. The European Union and the World Bank
for the company in charge to settle expenses involved in the project. The
a force majeure. “We find ourselves forced to stop all construction activities
among others.
like Maradi, Damagaram and the northern part of Niger Republic, the
ECOWAS leadership has ordered fresh sanctions through the Central Bank
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Media, and Public Affairs, Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this during a press
detained President Mohamed Bazoum and his family. Senior officers from
various branches of the defense and security forces (FDS) formed a junta,
named the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP),
support of the CNSP. By 27 July, the Nigerien Armed Forces joined the
CNSP, citing their intent to avoid lethal confrontation and to safeguard the
key stakeholders like the United States, France, the European Union, and
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considered military intervention and threatened sanctions to pressure the
sanctions and froze Nigerien state assets. Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali
have declared their support for the Nigerien junta and expressed their refusal
to apply any sanctions imposed on Niger. Burkina Faso and Mali further
Niger from the junta-led states have set the stage for a deeper divide and
The coup’s aftermath brings a high potential for domestic unrest and
sanctions. Furthermore, the military junta has not consolidated its power
Bazoum not only enjoys support from the international community but also
independence from France in 1960, with the most recent having occurred in
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2010. In between, there were also several coup attempts, the most recent of
which was in 2021 when military dissidents tried to seize the presidential
assume office from a similarly elected predecessor. The coup also came in
the wake of recent coups in nearby countries, such as in Guinea, Mali, and
Sudan in 2021, and two in Burkina Faso in January and September 2022,
Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso from membership due to successful coups in
ECOWAS on 9 July 2023 and warned that they will not allow another coup
in the region and would take up these issues with the African Union and
Western countries.
Development Index and has also suffered from Islamist insurgencies led by
Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, and Boko Haram, despite its military receiving
training and logistical support from the United States, France and Turkey,
which have bases in the country. It was also stated that disputes with the
army over attitudes with ECOWAS' position on military juntas in the region
may have also played a part; Salifou Modi, chief of staff of Niger's military
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until 31 March 2023, visited Bamako in March to agree with Mali that it
ECOWAS in its anti-junta stance; Modi was replaced weeks later. Coup
Bazoum's Detention
Mohamed Bazoum was President of Niger from 2021 until the 2023
and tried "in vain" to obtain the support of the other security forces. It also
said that President Mohamed Bazoum and his family were well after reports
emerged that he was being held in the Presidential Palace in the capital,
Niamey. Interior Minister Hamadou Souley was also arrested and held in
the palace, while roughly twenty members of the Presidential Guard were
spotted outside later in the day. The coup was reportedly led by Tchiani,
whom analysts said Bazoum had planned to relieve from his position.
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Bazoum's wife, Hadiza, and son, Salem, were detained with him at
the presidential palace, while his daughters were in Paris at the time of the
coup. Bazoum and his family were still in detention in mid-August 2023,
Military mobilization
blocked off by military vehicles, and palace staff were prevented from
approach the palace but were dispersed by the Presidential Guard with
saying they had secured "major strategic points" in the country. The
Presidency stated that the army and the National Guard were ready to attack
the presidential guard. The BBC also reported that loyalist forces had
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travel along Niamey's Boulevard de la Republique, where the Presidential
television channel Télé Sahel to claim that Bazoum had been removed from
power and announced the formation of a National Council for the Safeguard
Abdramane said the defence and security forces had decided to topple the
curfew from 22:00 until 05:00 local time, while warning against any foreign
by the army chief of staff General Abdou Sidikou Issa declaring its support
for the coup, citing the need to "preserve the physical integrity" of the
president and his family and avoid "a deadly confrontation that could create
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In a television statement shortly after, Abdramane announced the
notice. He also announced that the junta had issued a reprimand to France
for violating the airspace closure after a military plane landed at an air base.
the junta flying Russian flags, voicing support for the Wagner Group, and
denounced the French presence and that of other foreign bases. Other
Tarayya party, with footage showing them stoning and setting fire to
leading police to disperse them with tear gas. Demonstrations also occurred
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Télé Sahel. He said the coup was undertaken to avoid "the gradual and
inevitable demise" of the country, and said that Bazoum had tried to hide
"the harsh reality" of the country, which he called "a pile of dead, displaced,
strategy for its purported ineffectiveness and lack of collaboration with Mali
and Burkina Faso but did not give a timeline for a return to civilian rule. His
against the new regime while sheltering in foreign embassies and warned of
9. Recommendation
ii. The Niger conflict is not limited to Niger alone; it involves multiple
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iii. Addressing the presence of extremist groups requires a combination
programs, and efforts to win the hearts and minds of the local
population.
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REFERENCES
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As they combat the French, the Francophone African countries should
realise that we their ECOWAS neighbours are their friends who want
them to enjoy freedom from France and also democratic rights in the
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