Niger has announced the reopening of its borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, and Chad after a week-long closure following a military coup that ousted democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from power. The coup has been widely condemned by foreign powers, sparking fears of a wider conflict in the West Africa’s Sahel region.
The regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has taken a stern stance against the coup and threatened to use force if the soldiers do not reinstate the elected president. To discuss the situation in Niger, defence chiefs from ECOWAS have convened for a two-day meeting in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, starting today.
Led by General Abdourahmane Tiani, the junta in Niger is set to engage in talks with a delegation from ECOWAS, aiming to find a resolution to the political crisis. However, the closure of key entryways for trade and commerce remains in place due to sanctions imposed by the regional bloc.
Niger’s coup marks the seventh military takeover in less than three years in the West and Central Africa region. Some of the coup-hit countries have united in opposition to the rest of the 15-nation regional bloc.
As tensions escalate, European countries have started evacuating their citizens from Niger. Mali and Burkina Faso, both ruled by military juntas, have issued warnings against any regional intervention in Niger, threatening to consider it a declaration of war and pledging to defend the country.
On Wednesday, the first military planes carrying mostly European nationals landed in Paris and Rome, signifying the beginning of evacuations. However, France, the United States, Germany, and Italy, which have troops in Niger for counterinsurgency and training missions against al Qaeda and Islamic State-linked groups, have not announced troop withdrawal so far.
Amidst concerns of potential supply risks, Niger’s status as the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium has drawn attention. Uranium is a radioactive metal used in nuclear energy production and cancer treatment. The EU Commission has assured that it has sufficient inventories of natural uranium to mitigate any short-term supply risks.
Foreign intervention to restore democracy in Niger faces opposition, with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani warning against any such action, fearing it could be perceived as a new form of colonization.
The situation in Niger remains highly volatile, with regional and international actors closely monitoring the developments. As ECOWAS deliberates on potential forceful action, the future of Niger’s political landscape remains uncertain, with implications for stability in the entire Sahel region.
