Niger coup leaders say some preparing for military intervention
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The Nigerien National Council for the Defense of the Homeland (CNSP) revealed that two undisclosed Central African nations had begun a preliminary movement of troops for what they fear would be a military intervention in Niger.
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Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, on July 30, 2023. (AP)
Niger's presidential guard deposed President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26. The commander of the guard, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, declared himself the new leader of Niger.
The Nigerien National Council for the Defense of the Homeland (CNSP) said on Monday that two undisclosed Central African nations had begun a preliminary movement of troops for what they fear would be a military intervention in Niger.
Read more: Change of regime in Niger could be a blow to the West: Politico
According to the Nigerien Press Agency, the CNSP stated that even though the Nigerien people and ECOWAS disapprove of the military intervention in Niger, "A preliminary transfer of forces to participate in it has started in two Central African countries."
In a display of solidarity with Niger, which is currently under the control of a coup leader who ousted the democratically elected government, Burkina Faso and Mali have announced the dispatch of an official joint delegation to the capital city, Niamey.
This gesture of solidarity comes amidst mounting pressure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which issued a deadline for the coup leaders to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum. Failure to comply with this ultimatum could result in potential military action from the regional bloc.
The political crisis in Niger took a sharp turn on July 26, when the presidential guard detained President Bazoum, leading to the subsequent declaration of interim leadership by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who also assumed the presidency of the caretaker National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.
ECOWAS has resorted to implementing a full pressure campaign on the country, which included the closure of land and air borders between the bloc's countries and Niger, the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions with it, and the freezing of the country's assets in ECOWAS Central Banks.
The bloc also suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze the assets of the coup leaders, their families, and supporters, and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country.
Despite the ultimatum deadline set by ECOWAS, thousands of Nigeriens took to the streets on Sunday in the capital, Niamey, to show their support for the junta.
The interim governments of Mali and Burkina Faso issued a joint statement saying the authorities of Burkina Faso and Mali, the two countries warned that any military intervention in Niger to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum would constitute a declaration of war against their own countries, adding that the consequences of a military intervention would destabilize the entire Sahel region.
After Burkina Faso and Mali, Niger is the third country in less than three years to be rocked by a military coup.
Just like those African leaders that were toppled by military juntas, Bazoum was also backed by Western powers.
