The West African region and Western powers were ripped in shock, when news broke out on July 26 that, there has been a military takeover in Niger, ousting the democratic elected government of Mohammed Bazoum.
The African Union, ECOWAS, UN, U.S, and the major powers issued statements denouncing the act and called on the Military leadership to return governance to Mohammed Bazoum.
The Niger military coup becomes the third in the West African region, and the six military coup d’état on the African continent since 2020.
However, Mali and Burkina Faso have issued caution to Western military powers to refrain from using military operations to intervene into the situation in Niger.
According to the two coup-stricken West African nations, any assault on Niger would be deemed as an assault on Mali and Burkina Faso.
“The transitional governments of Burkina Faso and Mali express their fraternal solidarity to the people of Niger, who have decided with full responsibility to take their destiny in hand and assumed the fullness of their sovereignty before history,” the countries said.
“Any military intervention against Niger would be tantamount to a declaration of war against Burkina Faso and Mali.”
Mali and Burkina Faso.
According to the leaders of these two nations, any form of Western military operations in Niger would end up in a “disastrous consequences that could destabilize the entire region” of West Africa.
Moreover, the Niger military administration has vowed to to defend itself from any military operations orchestrated by the West or ECOWAS.
According to the leader of coup and the transitional leader of Niger, Abdourahmane Tchiani, the reasons for overthrowing the administration of Mohammed Bazoum were, poor implementation of security policies in their fight against Islamic jihadist like the al-Qaeda and the Islamic State and poor economic management.
As France, U.S and ECOWAS heap sanction on Niger, the military administration of Mali and Burkina Faso have “refused to apply the illegal, illegitimate, and inhumane sanctions against the people and authorities in Niger.”
Along with economic sanctions, and freezing of the national assert of Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has disclosed that, it would consent to the use of force to restore democracy in Niger, and free the detained leaders including the ousted President, Mohammed Bazoum.
On the other hand, the military administration in Guinea, headed by Mamady Doumbouya, has voiced out their “disagreement with the sanctions recommended but ECOWAS, including military intervention.”
According to Doubouya, the imposition of economic sanctions “are options that would not be a solution to the current problem, but would lead to a humanitarian disaster whose consequences could extend beyond the borders of Niger.”
Furthermore, Doumbouya declared that, it had “decided not to apply these sanctions, which it considers illegitimate and inhumane,” and admonished ECOWAS to “reconsider its position.”
Why Is France So Concern About The Situation In Niger
President of France, Emmanuel Macron warned that, any attack on French nationals in Niger and its interests, would resort to the use of military force to restore order. Talking of interests of France, Niger has suspended the export of gold and uranium to France.
To power its nuclear plants, France imports 15% of uranium from Niger, making it the most of all France’s uranium imports from other nation.
A stop in export of Uranium to France means that, Europe’s most powerful nation may be heading towards energy crisis, as France is heavily dependent on its nuclear power plants as their only source of electricity.
France ditched Russian gas last year, in support of Ukraine after Moscow invaded in February 2022.
Additionally, the administration has also with immediate effect, ban the export of uranium to the European Union. EU imports 24% of Uranium from Niger.
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