PARIS: Amidst global condemnation of President Mohamed Bazoum’s ouster in Niger, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna has urged coup plotters to consider “ways out” of the current crisis. The Sahel region in Africa has been hit by yet another coup, leaving Bazoum confined to his residence by his own presidential guard since Wednesday.
Despite mounting denunciations of the coup from African and international organizations, as well as Germany, the United States, and France, President Bazoum remained defiant, vowing to safeguard the hard-won democratic gains on Twitter.
However, French Foreign Minister Colonna emphasized on Friday that the situation was not considered final, leaving room for a possible resolution if the coup leaders heed the international community’s condemnation.
France, a significant ally with 1,500 troops stationed in Niger, previously called for “the restoration of the integrity of Niger’s democratic institutions.” Nevertheless, Armed forces chief General Abdou Sidikou Issa has now thrown his support behind the coup plotters, leading to concerns over the future stability of the landlocked state, one of the world’s poorest.
Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Niger has witnessed four coups and numerous other attempts, with the recent coup being the second targeting President Bazoum. The 63-year-old leader is part of a diminishing group of elected presidents and pro-Western leaders in the Sahel region, which has experienced a surge in jihadist insurgency leading to coups in Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020.
As the coup unfolds, fears of further instability and security risks loom. The coup leaders, 10 men in military uniform, appeared on national television to announce their takeover, citing the deterioration of the security situation and poor economic and social governance. They suspended all institutions, closed borders, and imposed a night-time curfew.
UN Chief Concern Over Situation in Niger
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanded the immediate release of President Bazoum, declaring him as the legitimate and legal President of Niger. The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, expressed concern over the situation, particularly regarding extremism and military upheaval in the Sahel region.
The coup has also led to the suspension of UN humanitarian operations in Niger, exacerbating the plight of the country’s vulnerable population. The number of people in need of humanitarian assistance in Niger has surged to 4.3 million in 2023, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
Global leaders, including the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Russia, have appealed for President Bazoum’s release and called for peaceful dialogue to resolve the crisis. Bazoum had assumed office two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful transition since gaining independence. The nation, with a population of 22 million, faces significant challenges, with two jihadist campaigns raging in different regions.
