NIGER
MILITARY COUP - INTERNATIONAL
News:
Niger coup: How ordinary
people are paying the price
What's
in the news?
●
On 28 July, the head of Niger’s presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani,
ousted President
Mohamed Bazoum and declared himself head of state after the military
seized power.
Factors
led to the coup:
1. Worsening security situations:
●
Despite the increase in foreign forces, especially from the US and France, and
military bases in Niger, the leadership has been unable to stop insurgent
attacks.
●
There are several insurgent groups, such
as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, as well as Boko Haram operating in
the country.
2.
Ethnicity problem:
●
Debate over the ethnicity and legitimacy
of Bazoum was an issue during the last election campaign. Bazoum is from Niger’s ethnic Arab minority.
●
This did not sit well within the military
circle, which is predominantly composed of the larger ethnic groups. There is a
lot of emphasis on ethnic military composition in the country.
3.
Foreign intervention:
●
The large number of foreign military
troops and bases in the country has not been well received by the military.
They believe this undermines them.
●
Niger is a key ally of western countries
in the fight against insurgency in the region.
●
France’s
huge investments in Niger’s mining sector are another
reason for its interest in security.
4.
The failure of regional organizations:
●
Organizations such as ECOWAS and the African Union to take a firm stance against military
power seizures in Guinea, Burkina Faso and Mali emboldened the Nigerien
military.
●
ECOWAS leaders have now threatened to use
force to restore Bazoum if the coup plotters do not reinstate him.
Go
back to basics:
Niger:
●
Niger is a vast, arid country in West Africa, twice the size of France.
●
Having a population of about 25 million,
the largely-agrarian country is one of
the poorest in the world and has ranked low on the Human Development Index
over the decades, vulnerable to the extreme weather effects of climate change
which threatens food security.
●
Niger,
however, also has gold mining reserves
and 5-7% of the global production of uranium.
●
Niger is a landlocked country located in West Africa.
●
It is bordered by seven countries,
including Nigeria, Chad, Algeria, Libya,
Benin, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
●
Niger gained independence from France on
August 3, 1960, making it one of the earliest African nations to gain
sovereignty from colonial rule.
●
The capital
of Niger is Niamey, which is also its largest city and serves as the
political, economic, and cultural center of the country.
Key
features:
●
Climate:
Desert, mostly hot, dry, dusty, tropical in extreme south.
●
Economy:
Niger is one of the world's poorest countries and faces challenges related to
poverty, food security, and underdevelopment. However, it has significant
natural resources, including gold mining reserves and a significant share of
global uranium production. The economy is largely agrarian, with a focus on
subsistence farming and livestock.
●
Ethnic
Groups: Hausa, Zarma-Songhai, Tuareg, Fulani, Kanuri, Arab,
Toubou.
●
Official
Language: French language is recognized as the official
language of Niger.