By Joe Ogini
The recent military coup in Niger which marks the seventh coup in the West and Central Africa region since 2020, could hinder western efforts to assist countries in the Sahel region fight against terrorism and jihadist insurgency that has over the years spread from Mali into other regions in Africa.
It will be recalled that Niger, a former French colony has been an important partner for western powers in the fight against insurgencies, and fear that the new military juntas in Niger and Burkina Faso who have usurped power in Niger may be disposed to working with them in that line.
Already, there are claims that the western countries are facing great opposition from the juntas thereby further stalling their mission in the region.
Niger is also a key ally of the European Union in the fight against irregular migration from sub-saharan Africa.
France moved troops to Niger from Mali last year after its relations with interim authorities there soured.
It has also withdrawn special forces from Burkina Faso amid similar tensions.
Meanwhile, the coup plotters have disregarded the warning given by the ECOWAS chairperson, President Bola Tinubu, against the illegal removal of the democratically elected government of Niger Republic, and instead warned against all forms of external interventions in their internal matters.
A group of soldiers had stunned the world when they appeared on the country’s national television Wednesday night, hours after the President of Niger Mohamed Bazoum was held in the presidential palace, and had declared that his government had been ousted from power.
They had attributed their action to the deteriorating security situation in the country and generally bad governance.
In a statement by Colonel Amadou Abdramane, he stated that the defence and security forces had decided to “put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
Abdramane said Niger’s borders are closed, a nationwide curfew declared, and all institutions of the republic are suspended.
The soldiers warned against any foreign intervention, adding that they will respect Bazoum’s well-being.
But the United States, France and other foreign countries have condemned the coup just as the United Nations has halted its humanitarian operations in the Republic of Niger as a way of expressing its displeasure over the ousting of President Mohammed Bazoum.
According to the spokesman of the UN humanitarian, he said, Thursday, that the organization has suspended all its operations in Niger till further notice.
This move will undoubtedly affect adversely the Sahel region, with a record number of ever increasing number of people in need of humanitarian aids.
Reports say that the number rose from 1.9million in 2017 to 4.3million in 2023, according to data from the UN Office for the coordination of Humanitarian Affairs..
