The coup d’état that occurred in Niger on July 26, 2023, which saw the country’s presidential guard toppling President Mohamed Bazoum’s democratically elected government, has been widely condemned by the international community and by the West African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
General Abdourahamane Tchiani (former presidential guard commander), who in addition to detaining President Bazoum, proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta in the country, has remained recalcitrant to calls to step down and reinstate the toppled government.
On Sunday, ECOWAS announced a one-week ultimatum for coup plotters in Niger to hand over power to the democratically elected government or risk the use of force.
This Friday, with about 24 hours left to the end of the ultimatum, Nigeria’s President and ECOWAS Chair, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, wrote to the Nigerian Senate, to brief the upper legislative chamber on actions being taken by Nigeria and ECOWAS against the Nigerien military junta.
The President, in his letter to the Senate, highlighted the following actions:
“Closure and monitoring of all land borders with Niger Republic and reactivating of the border drilling exercise.
“Cutting off Electricity supply to Niger Republic
“Mobilizing international support for the implementation of the provisions of the ECOWAS communiqué
“Preventing the operation of commercial and special flights into and from Niger Republic
“Blockade of goods in transit to Niger especially from Lagos and eastern seaports
“Embarking on sensitization of Nigerians on the imperative of these actions particularly via social media
“Military build-up and deployment of personnel for military intervention to enforce compliance of the military junta in Niger should they remain recalcitrant”.
Recall that a delegation of ECOWAS who went to Niger to present the demands of leaders of the West African bloc on Thursday, July 3, returned without being allowed to meet either the coup leader or the detained president.
On the same day, the putschists in Niger had announced they would retaliate immediately in the event of aggression or attempted aggression against their country by ECOWAS.
Many, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Femi Falana, Atiku Abubakar among other prominent Nigerians, have advised against military intervention in Niger. They instead, suggest dialogue accompanied by imposition of tough economic sanctions on the junta.
“To this end, ACF notes that while it supports the position to restore democratic rule in Niger, it calls on the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government under the able Chairmanship of President Bola Tinubu, that it should toe the path of dialogue and diplomacy and certainly not force, in resolving the current impasse in Niger in the interest of peaceful coexistence with our brotherly neighbour and stability of the ECOWAS region,” a statement by ACF partly read.
In the words of Atiku, “As the ECOWAS continues to work towards reinstating democracy in the Republic of Niger, it must be reinforced that the regional body should not travel the road of military hostilities that may exacerbate the status quo.”
Femi Falana, had in his own response, said among other things, “Having not invaded Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali when power-drunk soldiers sacked democratically elected governments, ECOWAS leaders should not play into the hands of the enemies of Africa by launching a military attack on Niger.”
Now, this is the 5th military coup since Niger Republic gained independence from France in 1960. Indeed, the situation, like in other climes where such crisis ever existed, presents itself as a peculiar one.
While ECOWAS, France, European Union and the United States have condemned the coup and its plotters – declaring support for the democratically elected government; Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea, on the other hand, have aligned with Niger’s military junta.
For ECOWAS, there is no easy route to approching the crisis, especially as the coup plotters appear not to be ready for any form of negotiation.
A military intervention might lead to a fully blown war, which would eventually result in the killing of many innocent people. But ignoring the situation might be inimical to the sustenance of democratic rule in other West African, and indeed African countries.
As at present, President Tinubu and his ECOWAS heads of governments must be at sixes and sevens. The biggest issue right now is the fear of the regional bloc falling into the hands of total military rule. Intervening militarily will have consequences. But not intervening will also have far reaching implications for West Africa. What should Tinubu do? Should he go ahead and fight or allow Niger?
