A spokesperson for the Parliament of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced today, Saturday, that the parliament intends to send a committee to Niger to meet with the military coup leaders who seized power last month and are currently resisting diplomatic pressures to restore civilian rule.
Concerns extend beyond the fate of Niger, a major uranium producer and a key ally of the West in the fight against Islamist militants. Global powers are worried about their strategic interests in West and Central Africa, where seven coups have occurred in the last three years.
American, French, German, and Italian forces are stationed in Niger to confront a rebellion by local groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, which has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of millions in the Sahel region. Meanwhile, Russian influence is growing amid increasing insecurity and the undermining of democracy, as leaders seek new partners to restore order.
Western powers fear that Russian influence will increase if the military council in Niger follows in the footsteps of its neighbors, Mali and Burkina Faso, which expelled French forces, the former colonial power, after coups in those countries. Since then, Mali has cooperated with mercenaries from the Russian private military group Wagner, a move that coincided with a rise in violence there. Mali has also expelled a United Nations peacekeeping force, which security analysts warn may lead to further conflict.
Thousands of coup supporters demonstrated in front of a French military base in Niamey, the capital of Niger, on Friday. One protester held a sign saying "Long live Russia," while others carried slogans such as "Down with France... Down with ECOWAS" and "Wagner will protect our children from terrorism."
Regional military leaders are expected to meet in the coming days. If they choose to intervene, it is unclear how long it will take to assemble an ECOWAS force, its size, and whether it will actually invade Niger. Security analysts have stated that it could take weeks. Only Ivory Coast has mentioned the number of troops it will contribute, while countries like Liberia and Cape Verde have expressed a preference for diplomatic solutions. Russia has warned against taking military action.
In the meantime, the African Union, the European Union, the United States, and the United Nations have expressed concern regarding the detention of Bazoum.
