By SAM MEDNICK (Associated Press)
NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Economic sanctions may severely harm one of many world’s poorest nations after a coup unseated one of many West’s final democratic companions in opposition to Islamic extremists in West Africa’s Sahel area.
Niger’s neighbors are additionally threatening armed intervention in opposition to the junta run by the top of the presidential guard, though analysts say there may be solely a slim probability of the regional physique efficiently sending troops.
Both the United States and France have despatched forces and lots of of hundreds of thousands of navy and humanitarian assist lately to Niger, which was a French colony till 1960. The French and the US practice Nigerien forces, and the French navy carries out joint operations within the north.
Since the coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, folks have been toting Russian flags and praising that nation in pro-junta demonstrations.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March to strengthen ties and announce $150 million in direct help, calling the nation “a model of democracy.” France pulled out of Mali final yr and has some 1,500 troops in Niger.
The West African regional physique referred to as ECOWAS introduced journey and financial sanctions in opposition to Niger on Sunday over the coup and mentioned they’d use pressure if the coup leaders don’t reinstate him inside one week.
Since the Nineteen Nineties, the 15-nation bloc has unsuccessfully tried to guard democracies in opposition to the the specter of coups, with blended success.
Niger depends closely on international assist and sanctions may additional impoverish its greater than 25 million folks. ECOWAS suspended all industrial and monetary transactions between its member states and Niger, in addition to freezing Nigerien belongings held in regional central banks.
The sanctions may very well be disastrous and Niger must discover a answer to keep away from them, the nation’s Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou instructed French media outlet Radio France Internationale on Sunday.
“When people say there’s an embargo, land borders are closed, air borders are closed, it’s extremely difficult for people … Niger is a country that relies heavily on the international community,” he mentioned.
Four nations are run by navy governments in West and Central Africa, the place there have been 9 profitable or tried coups since 2020.
In the Nineteen Nineties, ECOWAS intervened in Liberia throughout its civil conflict, one of many bloodiest conflicts in Africa and one which left many cautious of intervening in inside conflicts. In 2017, ECOWAS intervened in The Gambia to stop the brand new president’s predecessor, Yahya Jammeh, from disrupting the handover of energy. Around 7,000 troops from Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal entered the nation, in keeping with the Global Observatory, which offers evaluation on peace and safety points. The intervention was largely seen as conducting its mission.
If the regional bloc makes use of pressure, it may set off violence not solely between Niger and ECOWAS forces but additionally between civilians supporting the coup and people in opposition to it, Niger analysts say.
“While this remains to be a threat and unlikely action, the consequences on civilians of such an approach if putschists chose confrontation would be catastrophic,” mentioned Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow on the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based assume tank.
Lyammouri additionally mentioned he doesn’t see a “military intervention happening because of the violence that could trigger.”
Blinken on Sunday recommended the resolve of the ECOWAS management to “defend constitutional order in Niger” after the sanctions announcement, and joined the bloc in calling for the rapid launch of Bazoum and his household.
The navy junta, which seized energy on Wednesday when members of the presidential guard surrounded Bazoum’s home and detained him, is already cracking down on the federal government and civil liberties.
On Sunday night it arrested 4 authorities officers, together with Mahamane Sani Mahamadou, the minister of petroleum and son of former President Mahamadou Issoufou; Kassoum Moctar, minister of training; Ousseini Hadizatou Yacouba, the minister of mines, and Foumakoye Gado, the president of the ruling occasion. That’s in keeping with somebody near the president, who was not approved to discuss the state of affairs, and a Nigerien analyst who didn’t need to be named for worry of reprisal.
The identical night time, junta spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane mentioned on state tv that every one authorities vehicles should be returned by noon Monday and banned the usage of social media to place out messages he describe as dangerous to state safety. He additionally claimed that Bazoum’s authorities had approved the French to hold out strikes to free Bazoum, allegations that weren’t confirmed.
Bazoum has but to resign. He remains to be being detained and believed to be in his home within the capital, Niamey. The first photographs of him because the coup appeared Sunday night, sitting on a sofa smiling beside Chad’s President Mahamat Deby, who had flown in to mediate between the federal government and the junta.
In anticipation of the ECOWAS resolution Sunday, hundreds of pro-junta supporters took to the streets in Niamey, denouncing France, waving Russian flags and telling the worldwide neighborhood to remain away.
Demonstrators in Niger are brazenly resentful of France, and Russia is seen by some as a strong different. The nature of Moscow’s involvement within the rallies, if any, isn’t clear, however some protesters have carried Russian flags, together with indicators studying “Down with France” and supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“The situation of this country is not good … It’s time for change, and change has arrived,” mentioned Moussa Seydou, a protester. “What we want from the putschists — all they have to do is improve social conditions so that Nigeriens can live better in this country and bring peace,” he mentioned.
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