In the increasingly tense landscape of the Niger coup, mutinous soldiers find themselves squeezed by regional sanctions and reluctant to reinstate the nation’s president, whom they deposed nearly a month ago. Their apprehension is exacerbated by potential hostilities with France, as revealed by an undisclosed official.
This source, who insisted on anonymity, shared insights with the Associated Press following a crucial meeting on Saturday. The meeting served as a pivotal moment between Niger’s newly established military regime and a delegation representing ECOWAS, the West African regional bloc. However, the approximately two-hour discussion, aimed at forging a peaceful resolution to the country’s deepening crisis, produced little results, leaving the path ahead shrouded in uncertainty.
Significantly, this marked the first encounter between General Abdourahmane Tchiani, the leader of the junta, and the ECOWAS delegation, following his prior rebuffs of their advances. Saturday’s gathering marked a last-ditch diplomatic endeavor by ECOWAS to defuse the crisis through peaceful means. This initiative followed last week’s announcement that 11 of its 15 member states had reached a consensus to intervene militarily if Niger’s democratically elected President, Bazoum, was not released from house arrest and reinstated.
It is notable that the bloc’s three other member nations under military rule due to recent coups—Guinea, Mali, and Burkina Faso—were excluded from this arrangement. The latter two nations had already issued warnings, deeming intervention in Niger an act of war. On August 10, ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a “standby force” to Niger with the aim of restoring constitutional order. However, the timing and nature of this intervention remain unclear.
During the negotiations, General Tchiani pressed for the lifting of the economic and travel sanctions imposed by ECOWAS in the wake of the coup. He argued that these measures were causing undue suffering for Niger’s population. However, he appeared reluctant to offer substantial concessions in return. The junta vacillated between expressing a conciliatory tone, offering apologies for past disrespect towards the bloc, and steadfastly maintaining their decision to overthrow Bazoum with no intention of returning him to power.
General Tchiani repeatedly voiced concerns that France, Niger’s former colonial ruler, might be actively planning an attack. France has maintained a presence of approximately 1,500 troops in Niger, conducting training and joint operations with the nation’s military. Niger was seen by many Western nations as a key democratic partner in the region, crucial for combating the escalating insurgency in the region. The coup has been perceived as a significant setback to these efforts, with potentially far-reaching consequences.
Niger Coup Leader Proposes Return to Democracy Within 3 Years
Shortly after the Saturday meetings, General Tchiani outlined a roadmap for Niger’s future on state television. He pledged a return to civilian rule within three years, with details to be determined through a national dialogue set to commence immediately.
Some Nigerien soldiers hold a different perspective, however. One soldier, who had served directly under Bazoum prior to the coup, expressed doubts about Tchiani’s longevity in power. He asserted that deep divisions exist within the presidential guard, the unit responsible for overthrowing Bazoum, as well as within the junta itself. According to his assessment, the majority of the nearly 1,000 soldiers stationed at the presidential complex would flee if ECOWAS initiated military action, and he predicted Tchiani’s ouster within a few months.