The African country of Niger was recently rocked by a military coup last month that saw democratically-elected Nigerien president Mohamed Bazoum removed from office and replaced with a military junta. The junta, which is currently led by Abdourahmane Tchiani, head of both the Nigerien presidential guard and (currently) head of the ruling military Junta, announced on Nigerien national television on the morning of the 26th of July that the President had been detained in his presidential palace. After several hours, he also announced that the new National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CSNP) had elected to remove the president from power and investigate him for corruption. The coup was immediately condemned by several nations such as the United States and France. Both of these countries have large military bases within the northern fringe of the country, which house hundreds of drones that are used to combat ISIS and Boko Haram forces in the Sahel region of Africa (where Niger is located). Several international organizations, most notably the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS), condemned the invasion as well, with ECOWAS specifically activating a standby intervention force to invade and remove the junta from power should diplomatic talks fail. As of writing this article, the intervention force has not been put into action.
Junta and Coup leader Abdourahmane Tchiani heading to a meeting with government ministers in the capital city Niamey on July 27th, 2023. (Balima Boureima/Reuters)
Also resulting from the coup are several sanctions which have been placed on Tchiani and the Nigerien military, mostly by the United States, France, and ECOWAS. France has also stated that they would be willing to participate in an armed intervention with ECOWAS, due to French troops in the country facing protests and attacks by Nigeriens and the Junta itself, with several French bases in the country being blockaded. The junta has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the French military, which has drawn the ire of France and her military stationed in the country. As stated by, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a retort, “Only the legitimate authorities [of Niger] can cancel the agreement.”
Supporters of the CSNP, with Nigerien Junta troops in the foreground, protesting outside of a French military base in the capital city of Niamey. (Reuters/Mahamadou Hamidou)
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Sources
The Snapper 