Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, is facing a diplomatic crisis after the regional bloc ECOWAS suspended it from all decision-making bodies following a military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced the suspension on Thursday, effective from December 10, more than four months after the coup that toppled Bazoum’s government.
Bazoum, who was elected in February 2021, was removed from power by a group of soldiers led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the commander of the presidential guard. Tchiani declared himself the leader of a military junta and established the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).
The CNSP has promised to restore constitutional order and hold elections within three years, but ECOWAS has rejected this proposal and demanded the immediate reinstatement of Bazoum and the release of all detained government officials.
ECOWAS, which comprises 15 member states, has a history of intervening in political crises in West Africa, often by imposing sanctions or deploying military forces. In 2017, it successfully pressured former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh to step down after he refused to accept his electoral defeat. In 2012, it imposed an arms embargo and a travel ban on Mali after a coup there.
The suspension of Niger from ECOWAS means that the country will lose its voting rights and access to the bloc’s financial and technical assistance. It also isolates Niger from its neighbors, who are facing similar challenges of insecurity, poverty and climate change.
Niger is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world, ranked last on the Human Development Index by the United Nations. It is also facing multiple threats from armed groups, including Boko Haram, Islamic State, and al-Qaeda affiliates, who have carried out attacks on civilians and security forces in the country and across the borders with Nigeria, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
The coup in Niger has also raised concerns among its international partners, especially France, which has about 5,000 troops stationed in the Sahel region as part of a counter-terrorism operation. France has condemned the coup and called for a swift return to civilian rule. The United States, the European Union, and the African Union have also expressed their disapproval and urged dialogue and respect for democracy.
The fate of Niger’s political transition remains uncertain, as the CNSP has not yet announced a roadmap or a timetable for the restoration of constitutional order. ECOWAS has said it will continue to monitor the situation closely and facilitate the resolution of the crisis. It has also expressed its solidarity with the people of Niger and their aspirations for a peaceful and democratic future.
Source: Business Day
