The Nigerien Crisis
By JOSEPH KIM ‘26
On July 26, 2023, a sudden coup d’etat in Niger, with a military junta led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani took over the government of President Mohamed Bazoum. The ruling military junta, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland or CNSP, took military control over the capital city Niamey and detained President Bazoum and his family in the presidential palace, subjecting them to poor health and life conditions. Despite resistance from Bazoum, the leaders of the Nigerien military sided with the junta, and Tchiani effectively took total control over the state within a few days. But what is perhaps equally important as the coup itself is the aftermath and responses to it.
Diplomatic responses from other West African countries have been immediate. Leaders of member states of ECOWAS — an economic and political alliance between eleven West African countries — met on Aug. 2 to discuss intervention in Niger. Nearly all of the unsuspended member states have denounced the takeover. ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah proclaimed, “Let no one be in doubt that if everything else fails, the valiant forces of West Africa…are ready to answer to the call of duty.” The Federal Republic of Nigeria, which constitutes for more than half of ECOWAS’ GDP and military, mobilized and built up troops near its border with Niger. Nigerian president and current ECOWAS chairman Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared that ECOWAS and the democratic world “will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.” Tinubu made it clear that Nigeria “will not accept coup after coup in West Africa again.” However, the Nigerian senate rejected Tinubu’s proposal for a military intervention in Niger, suggesting a peaceful way “to resolve the issues in view of the existing cordial relationship between Nigeriens and Nigerians.” The strong response from these West African governments shows the importance of the situation in Niger to the security of the entire region.
ECOWAS members are not the only states to be appalled by the government overthrow. France, Italy, the United States, and the United Kingdom issued statements demanding the release of Bazoum and expressing support for an intervention in Niger. French foreign minister Catherine Colonna demanded that Niger “must return to constitutional order” and “must see the will of the people of Niger respected.” United States President Joe Biden stated, “The Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders. They have expressed their will through free and fair elections, and that must be respected.” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said that the junta was “disrupting the constitutional order and Niger’s democracy.” The United Nations Security Council condemned the undemocratic takeover.
Yet, certain countries and groups are supportive of the coup. Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso—all countries that have been suspended from ECOWAS due to recent coups in each respective nation — expressed solidarity with the Nigerien junta and delivered equipment to Niger. Both Mali and Burkina Faso agreed to militarily support the Nigerien junta if it were invaded by another country. The Biafran government-in-exile also endorsed the government change. Russian President Vladimir Putin strongly opposed a violation of Nigerien borders and stood for the continuation of the junta rule (although he sent no equipment). General Salifou Mody, one of the main junta leaders, entered conversations with Wagner Group, a paramilitary force with a presence in many Sahel African countries as well as in Ukraine, requesting assistance. This outside influence greatly impacted Niger internally. Pro-coup demonstrators in Niamey have stormed the exterior of the French embassy, even setting the door on fire. Many of them flew Russian flags and shouted slogans such as “Down with France!” and “Long Live Putin!” before the angry demonstration was dispersed by the army.
“Besides the importance of Niger’s uranium exports, the strife in Niger is significant because it is a part of a larger struggle for Western powers.”
But why does this event in a distant third-world country matter? Besides the importance of Niger’s uranium exports, the strife in Niger is significant because it is a part of a larger struggle for Western powers. The coup in Niger is a shrinkage of the spheres of influence of France, Nigeria, and the United States, which is important to each government in its own way. One by one, juntas arising in West African countries in the last couple of decades created threats against the West. Recent developments have brought the crisis even closer to Western states after the Nigerien junta demanded the French, Nigerian, Togolese, and American ambassadors in Niamey to leave. French President Emmanuel Macron refused to withdraw French Ambassador Itté, calling the junta government “illegitimate authorities”. In response, Tchiani revoked Ambassador Itté’s diplomatic immunity and his family’s visas and ordered the police to remove him. Needless to say, this caused diplomatic outrage from many Western states and the European Union.
It seems clear that Niger continuing to remain under de-facto junta rule is a problem for Western-aligned countries, including those in NATO and ECOWAS. Many Western leaders have shown willingness to be directly involved in the conflict. France, the United States, Italy, and Germany all have military bases in the country, and next door Nigeria has an army of over 150,000. While some countries like the United States have been working to withdraw from Niger completely, many more are increasing their force in the region. France, which already had a significant military presence in the Sahel Region including a force of 1500 in Niger, recently started deploying weapons and personnel to ECOWAS countries for the purpose of countering the Nigerien junta. Since August, Nigeria has prepared a force of several thousand for a potential intervention. Alassane Ouattara, the president of the Ivory Coast (an ECOWAS member), declared that “Ivory Coast will provide a battalion and has made all the financial arrangements.”
Because the Nigerien crisis is an ongoing event, further news will continue to tell us what the future of Niger and West Africa will be. Although the junta government stated that it will return to normal life in several months, it is unclear as of now whether such undertakings will happen. It is also uncertain whether an international military intervention will take place in Niger. Regardless of whether direct or indirect should be taken, it is clear that the Nigerien junta has proven itself to be a threat to Western and ECOWAS nations, and the world is on the lookout for further responses.
