Demonstration for a coup in Niger after the threat of military intervention
Demonstrators chanted slogans against former colonial power France and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS after it vowed to revive ousted leader Mohamed Bazoum. In the Niger capital, thousands supported last month's military coup, whose leaders warned of outside intervention and proposed a three-year transition from power.
On Sunday, protesters chanted slogans targeting former colonial power France and the West African regional bloc of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which is considering a possible military operation to reinstate President-elect Mohamed Bazoum if negotiations continue with the coup plotters fail.
The Sahel's new military leaders have officially banned demonstrations, but in practice, those who support the coup can participate. protesters carried banners with the words "Stop Armed Intervention" and "No Sanctions" in response to financial and trade restrictions imposed by ECOWAS four days after the July 26 coup.
The latest pro-coup demonstrations came a day after Niamey's new military chief warned that an attack on Niger would not be child's play.
Also, General Abdourahmane Tchiani said in a televised address on Saturday that he did not want to "confiscate" power and that it would take no more than three years for power to return to civilian rule. Ibrahim Yahaya Ibrahim, an analyst at the International Crisis Group, said after Tchiani's announcement of a three-year transition period that "the ball is in ECOWAS's hands".“The passage defined the terms of the negotiations.
"If ECOWAS insists that leaders return government to civilians and reinstate President Bazoum, we will likely see military intervention," Al Jazeera told Al Jazeera. Niger's new leadership accused France, a close ally of Bazoum, of being behind the anti-coup stance by ECOWAS, which again emphasized a diplomatic solution on Saturday.
After a meeting of ECOWAS chiefs of staff in Ghana's capital, Accra, the 15-nation bloc said they had agreed on a date for a possible military operation.
Diplomatic Print
Despite threats of intervention, ECOWAS sent a diplomatic delegation to Niamey on Saturday, led by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Niger TV channel showed members of the delegation shaking hands with Bazoum, who was still in detention. Recordings of Abubakar's conversation with Tchiani were also released, but the content of this exchange was not released. In his televised address on Saturday, Tchiani said that ECOWAS was “preparing to attack Niger by forming an occupying army in cooperation with a foreign army,” without specifying from which country."If it were attacked against us, it would not be child's play as some think."
Tchiani also announced 30 days of "national dialogue" to draw up "concrete proposals" to lay the foundations for a "new constitutional life".ECOWAS leaders say they must act now as Niger became the fourth West African country to suffer a coup since 2020, after Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali. Bloc agreed to mobilize "reserve forces" as a last resort to restore democracy in Niger.
Here's a more detailed explanation of the key points:
- Military Coup and Ousted President: In the recent past, Niger underwent a military coup that resulted in the removal of its elected President, Mohamed Bazoum. The coup was led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani. The ousted president was a close ally of France, the former colonial power, which plays a significant role in this scenario.
- Pro-Coup Demonstrations: Following the coup, there have been several pro-coup rallies in Niger's capital, Niamey. Thousands of people took to the streets to show their support for the military coup. These demonstrators expressed their opposition to external intervention, particularly by France and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS.
- ECOWAS and Threat of Military Intervention: ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) is a regional organization that aims to promote economic integration and stability in West Africa. ECOWAS expressed concerns about the coup and its potential negative impact on democracy in the region. The organization threatened a potential military intervention to restore the ousted president to power if negotiations with the coup leaders were unsuccessful.
- Tensions with France: The coup leaders and their supporters have accused France of influencing ECOWAS's stance against the coup. France's historical ties to Niger and its support for the ousted president have led some to believe that France is attempting to maintain influence in the country's internal affairs.
- Diplomatic Efforts: Despite the threat of military intervention, ECOWAS initiated diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis. A diplomatic delegation, led by former Nigerian leader Abdulsalami Abubakar, visited Niger and engaged in discussions with both the coup leaders and the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, who remained in detention.
- Coup Leader's Perspective: General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the leader of the military coup, addressed the nation through a televised speech. He warned against any external attack on Niger and stated that such an attack would not be easy. Tchiani proposed a 30-day period of "national dialogue" to formulate proposals for a new constitutional framework.
- Three-Year Transition Period: One of the significant announcements made by the coup leader was the proposal of a three-year transition period for returning power to civilian rule. This transition period was seen as a potential compromise between the coup leaders and ECOWAS.
- Complex Negotiations: The article suggests that with the announcement of the three-year transition period, the ball is in ECOWAS's court. The negotiations between the coup leaders and ECOWAS will likely depend on whether ECOWAS accepts this proposed transition period and whether the ousted president's supporters agree with it.
- Regional Concerns: The coup in Niger is not an isolated incident in the region. ECOWAS's concerns stem from a series of recent coups in West African nations, including Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali. The regional bloc aims to prevent a trend of instability and coup-related disruptions to democracy.
In summary, the situation in Niger involves a complex interplay of domestic and international factors, including support for the coup, concerns about external intervention, diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, and the historical influence of former colonial powers. The outcome of negotiations and actions taken by ECOWAS will have significant implications for Niger's political future and stability within the region.