The recent Niger ‘military coup’ over the president shows another prolonged political instability in the country and region. A coup defines as an illegal, sudden, forcible removal of a government, usually bu the military and often by more immediate grievances bearing directly on the military. A coup is often seen as a means for preempting revolutionary change, however, repeated military intervention has seldom contributed to reform in long-term social and economic problems. The African coups sometimes become the means for changing government without free and regular elections and when the government has almost little to no legitimacy. Since its independence from France in 1960, the recent coup is the fifth in the West African nation’s history.
Niger President, Bazoum, is a close ally of the West as he fights against militant Islamists and has cooperated well economically, especially in producing minerals and militarily. After the coup on 26 July in Niger, the leader of the presidential security force, Abdourahamane Tiani, announced himself as the new leader of Niger, which raised Russian colors in his leadership. The West African Union, ECOWAS, committed to use any necessary actions to restore ousted Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum to power if he is not reinstated by the end of the week. As a response, the bloc has already taken measures against Niger, including suspending all transactions between Niger and ECOWAS member states and freezing all Nigerien assets held in regional central banks.
Burkina Faso and Mali supported the coup in Niger as they stated that any foreign intervention meant war. These two countries also refuse to impose sanctions on NIger, and the consequences of military intervention will tremendously affect all regions. However, this is unsurprising as Burkina Faso and Mali are also under military rule, each having undergone two coups since 2020. As if it will not get any worse, the two countries said they would withdraw from the West African Union, ECOWAS, and would support Niger military coup instead. The move shows that some African countries could quickly turn to US opposition countries to enhance their political, economic, and security interests.
The Wave of Military Coups in Africa
Coups in African countries were not new, as this has happened for decades. Compared to other continents, Africa has the most coups and coup attempts. However, the frequency of coup attempts in Africa remained relatively stable, averaging around four per year between 1960 and 2000. This consistency can be attributed to the instability experienced by many African countries in the aftermath of gaining independence. Factors such as poverty and poor economic performance were common conditions that made countries susceptible to coups. Furthermore, when a country experiences one coup, it often sets a precedent for more coup attempts.
There was a noticeable decline in coups and attempted coups after 2000. This shift might have been due to various reasons, including improved governance, regional efforts to promote stability, and economic improvements in some African nations. Yet, in 2021, there was a notable increase in coup attempts compared to the previous year. Several countries, including Chad, Mali, Guinea, Sudan, and Niger, experienced or attempted coups during this period. The year 2022 also witnessed five coup attempts, but only two of them, both in Burkina Faso, were successful.
Ndubuisi Christian Ani, from the University of KwaZulu-Natal, suggests that popular uprisings against long-serving dictators have resurged coups in Africa. While these uprisings are legitimate and driven by the people, their success often hinges on the decisions made by the military, which can lead to coup attempts and political instability. The social instability after the coup in Niger can be seen from the wave of demonstrators that demanded the release of Bazoum, although later, they were dispersed by the security forces. Moreover, the coup can also severely impact countering violent extremism in the African region as it could lead to more terrorism recruitment for adults and children.
What have the Western countries done?
Following the recent coup that ousted Niger’s president, the British government has declared that it will cease providing “long-term development assistance” to the country. France, which formerly ruled Niger as a colony, has warned that any attacks on French citizens or interests in Niger will trigger an “immediate and stringent” response. During pro-junta and pro-Russia demonstrations on Sunday, France’s embassy in Niger’s capital, Niamey, was targeted.
The European Union (EU), the United States, and France have refused to recognize his self-claim. The EU has also halted all security and defense cooperation with Niger, including military operations for countering ISIS-network in Africa. While some still supported Bazoum’s presidency, however, thousands took part in a protest in front of the French embassy while waving the Russian flag. Some of them stated that they view France as exploiting their country, especially in uranium, petrol, and gold, and they blame France for the poverty in Niger.
The changing and diverse perspectives raise support from some African countries that have turned to Russia as a supporting power. Some people argue that they have a good perception of the Russian businessman in Niger and want Russia to support the security and food industry in Niger. In return, Moscow will also support deploying the military mainly from paid forces Warner Group. The coup has become a political fragmentation not only domestically but also internationally.
