This is the sixth coup since 2020 in the Sahelian region of West Africa. In all the instances, apart from those countries’ inability to contain the insecurity posed by extremist groups, the double standards of its Western partners in the fight against these extremists have been called to question. From Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and now Niger. This is why many seem to agree with the Executive Director of the Africa Center for Security and Counter-Terrorism about the need for Africa Western partners to evaluate their foreign policy towards Africa and treat it as equal partners. The development within the sub-region since 2020 risks alienating the West and pushing these juntas into the waiting hands of Russia. He also called on the West to hold African leaders accountable in areas of political corruption, the rule of law, and credible elections rather than business as usual.
Here are a few sentiments expressed by the citizens after the military take-over as monitored by the BBC correspondent Tchima llla Issoufou & Lucy Fleming:
After delays due to heavy rain early in the morning, coup supporters took to the streets of the capital, Niamey, some gathering outside the National Assembly. Some in the crowd had Russian flags, while others held up hand-written signs saying: “Down with France” and “Foreign bases out”.
Others gathered outside the headquarters of the president’s PNDS Tarraya party, with footage showing them stoning and setting fire to vehicles.
They accuse the party of corruption and not doing enough to improve the security situation and end the long-running jihadist insurgency.
Two neighboring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced coups triggered by Islamist uprisings in recent years.
In both countries, the new military leaders have moved closer to Russia after falling out with France, which also previously ruled Niger.
A number of well-known pro-Kremlin commentators on Telegram – one of the few major social media platforms not banned in Russia – have been posting comments in support of the coup, saying it is an opportunity for Russia and Wagner to get into Niger.
For the moment, there is no evidence of any Russian involvement in this takeover. Moscow has urged all sides to resolve the dispute peacefully.
The junta has reprimanded France for violating the closure of the country’s borders after a military plane landed at an air-force base on Thursday morning.
It is not clear at the moment who is really in charge of Niger.
The takeover was announced by a spokesman, Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, who said the takeover was instigated by the deteriorating security situation “and poor economic and social governance”.
All the different branches of the security forces were represented during the late-night announcement on national television – an indication that the military is united behind the coup.
This coup is yet further bad news for French and Western efforts to restore stability to the part of West Africa known as the Sahel. When neighboring Mali chose to partner up with Russia’s Wagner Group in place of the French, Paris moved its center of operations in the region to Niger.
This coup, even if it turns out to be short-lived, has shown that even Niger cannot necessarily be relied on to be a permanent safe base. Western influence in the region is shrinking like a water pool in the dry season.
The governments in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic (CAR), and Mali have all decided they would rather work with Russia’s brutal Wagner mercenaries than any Western force. Wagner’s primary interests in Africa have appeared to be more about enriching themselves and extending the Kremlin’s influence than following the Western goals of trying to nurture better governance.
For the two major insurgent groups in the region, those linked to the so-called Islamic State and al-Qaeda, this is good news. They thrive on instability, poor governance, and local resentment of the government. So a coup in Niger is likely to further hamper efforts to contain them.
Africasecurityreport.com