Niger Commander Declares Himself Leader After Coup Try

In the West African country of Niger, General Abdurrahman Tiyani has declared himself the leader of the country and detained the legally elected President Mohamed Bajoum.

In response, Western countries have imposed economic and travel sanctions on the leaders of the Niger military coup on 30 July 2023. Also the US, European Union and West African countries have threatened to use force if the country's President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week.

• In 2021, Bajoum was elected president in the country's first democratic transfer of power.

• There is much concern in the West about the countries with which Abdurrahman Tiani will have close ties. Because Niger's neighbors, Burkina Faso and Mali, have both sided with Russia since their coups.

• The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc has directed Bazoum to be reinstated within a week at an emergency conference held in Nigeria on 30 July.

• Along with imposing financial penalties, ECOWAS has also banned all commercial and financial transactions on the block.

• Simultaneously, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, along with the US and France, has refused to recognize the coup leaders and has indefinitely suspended security cooperation and budgetary support.

• It is noteworthy that Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, often ranks last in the United Nations human development index.

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS):

• It is a 15-member regional grouping aimed at promoting economic integration in all spheres of activity of the constituent countries.

• ECOWAS' vision is to create a borderless zone where the population has access to its abundant resources and is able to harness them through the creation of opportunities within a sustainable environment.

• Established: 28 May 1975 (was done through the Treaty of Lagos)

• Member countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo.

Niger:

• Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Niger has been subject to frequent military coups.

• Capital: Niamey

• Currency: West African CFA Franc

• President: Mohamed Bajoum

• Prime Minister: Ouhoumadou Mahamdou