After the coup d’état in Niger, the international community threatened the putschists with intervention. The West African Economic Community (Ecowas) presented the self-declared rulers with an ultimatum on Sunday and threatened the “use of force”. In the face of thousands of demonstrators in front of its embassy in Niamey, the former colonial power France announced an “immediate and unrelenting” reaction should there be attacks on French citizens and institutions in the West African country.
After a summit meeting in Nigeria’s capital Abuja, the Ecowas states issued a statement calling on the military leaders in Niger to return power to the legitimate institutions within a week. In particular, the regional organization demanded the “immediate release” of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who had been arrested by the putschists, and the “full return to constitutional order”.
If these demands “are not met within a week”, Ecowas will “take all necessary measures,” the statement said. “These measures could also include the use of force.”
At the same time, the economic community decided on sanctions against the self-declared new rulers in the West African country. The Ecowas states announced the suspension of “all trade and financial transactions with Niger” and the freezing of “assets of military officials involved in the attempted coup”.
The head of the military junta in neighboring Chad also attended the crisis meeting. According to his government, he then traveled on to the Nigerien capital on his own initiative. General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno traveled to Niamey “to see what he can do to solve the crisis,” said a government spokesman, adding that he had not received a mandate from the Ecowas states. Chad is not a member of Ecowas.
Bazoum’s predecessor, former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou, also offered to mediate. He is trying to find a negotiated solution to “free Bazoum and reinstate him,” Issoufou wrote on Twitter, which was renamed X.
Before the crisis meeting of the Ecowas states, the putschists for their part accused the economic community of planning a military intervention in the country. The aim of the Ecowas summit was “to adopt a plan of aggression against Niger in the form of a threatened military intervention in Niamey,” the junta said on Saturday evening. Western nations are also involved in the plan.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that he would “not tolerate any attack against France and its interests”. Anyone who attacks French nationals must expect “an immediate and relentless response from France”. France supports “all regional initiatives” aimed at “restoring constitutional order” in the West African country and the return of detained President Bazoum.
The former colonial power France suspended development and financial aid for Niger on Saturday. On Sunday, thousands of pro-junta demonstrators gathered in front of the French embassy in Niamey and some tried to enter the building, a journalist from the AFP news agency reported. A sign reading “Embassy of France in Niger” was torn down and replaced with Nigerien and Russian flags. Some demonstrators chanted “Long live Russia,” “Long live Putin,” and “Down with France.”
On Wednesday, the Nigerien military arrested the Bazoum, who had been in office since 2021. On Friday, the head of the Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tiani, declared himself the new ruler. Bazoum was the first head of state in Niger, which had been independent since the end of French colonial rule in 1960, to reach the post through a peaceful transfer of power. In addition to other foreign soldiers, around a hundred Bundeswehr soldiers are also stationed in the West African country.
