West African nations have imposed sanctions on Niger and threatened that if the country’s coup leaders do not reinstate the ousted president, Mohammed Bazoum, within a week, they will use force to undo the coup.
The warning came from the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) after protestors stormed Niger’s capital, Niamey, and attacked the French embassy, with some coup supporters waving Russian flags.
ECOWAS’ One-Week Warning
An emergency summit was called by the ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria, in response to the coup that took place on 26 July.
Recalling the principle of Zero Tolerance for unconstitutional change of government in ECOWAS, the grouping called for the immediate release and reinstatement of the ousted Mohamed Bazoum as President and Head of State of Niger.
The grouping also demanded the full restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
Final communique - Fifty First Extraordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on the political situation in Niger...https://t.co/5gJTPi1CIc pic.twitter.com/a3ybDMYCWo
— Ecowas - Cedeao (@ecowas_cedeao) July 30, 2023
The communique issued at the end of the meeting held that the grouping will “consider the illegal detention of President Bazoum as a hostage situation and hold the authors of the attempted coup d’état solely and fully responsible.”
The grouping announced that in case the demands are not met within one week, all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger will be taken.
“Such measures may include the use of force; to this effect, the Chiefs of defence staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately,” the communique said.
Sanctions Against Niger
In the meantime, the ECOWAS announced the closure of land and air borders and the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS countries and Niger
They further announced the freezing of assets of the Republic of Niger in ECOWAS Central Banks and announced a travel ban and asset freeze for the military officials involved in the coup attempt.
The Africas Union has also issued its own 15-day ultimatum to the junta.
Junta’s Response
Before the ECOWAS meeting, the junta leaders claimed “The aim of this meeting is to approve a plan of aggression against Niger, in the form of an imminent military intervention in Niamey, in cooperation with African countries who are not members of the regional body and certain Western nations.”
The junta had warned earlier on that any attempt at foreign intervention would result in bloodshed.
On Monday, the junta said that the toppled government had authorised France to carry out strikes in an attempt to free Bazoum.
Bazoum has been confined to the presidential palace since Wednesday.
The Coup, Attack on French Embassy
Niger saw a military coup on Wednesday, with the country’s military announcing they had deposed Bazoum on national TV.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani was announced as the country’s new leader on Friday and the original constitution was suspended.
Thousands of pro-coup protestors marched through Niamey on Sunday, denouncing the former colonial power France and waving Russian flags. The French embassy was set ablaze by the protestors.
Bazoum came to power two years ago in the country’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence.
This is the fifth successful coup attempt in the country, which gained independence from France in 1960.
The EU and Niger share deep ties developed over decades.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) July 31, 2023
The unacceptable attack on the democratically elected government puts these ties in jeopardy.
I support the decisions made by Ecowas and welcome its active involvement in ensuring a swift reinstatement of President… https://t.co/LIXBexG9OB
International Reactions
French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the attack on the embassy and said that anybody who attacks French citizens will see an immediate response. The country also suspended the development and budget aid to Niger. Additionally, Britain also cut aid to the African country.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called for the president’s immediate release and offered him “unflagging support.”
The EU and African Union have tried to pressure the Niger coup leaders; meanwhile, the UN has pledged to remain engaged and committed amid the situation in Niger.
Interestingly, the only prominent voice in favour of the coup is that of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of Wagner, a private Russian paramilitary group, which had its own failed attempt at a coup in Moscow several weeks ago. Prigozhin welcomed the coup and offered support to its supporters calling it an “uprising against the colonisers.”