West African nations have given ultimatum to the coup in Niger, demanding release of President Mohammed Bazoum within a week after his capture by some part of the military last week, this has created a sense of turmoil in the country threatening the political, social and economical safety of the region. Following the same, reports of the French embassy being attacked are also incoming.
Pro-coup protesters burnt French flags in Niamey, stomping on the former colonial power’s mission in response to which the police had to use year gas. The African Union of 15 nations ECOWAS bloc’ imposed sanctions in view of the same.
Image source : CNN
This led to an emergency summit to be organised in Nigeria aimed to discuss the happenings of last week, leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threatened the military to restore the constitutional order. As per the communique, they are not going to shy away from using force as the political uprising has become more and more serious with its actions.
Image source : The conversation
This military takeover is the Sahel region’s 7th coup since 2020. President of Chad, Mahamat Idriss Deby, who rose to power in 2021 after a coup, met his Nigerian counterpart Bola Tinubu in the shadows of the summit and offered to volunteer to have a word with the military leaders in Niger.
The eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union along with ECOWAS decided that borders with Niger are to be closed following the summit and the coup, and it is to be done on an immediate basis. Commercial flights will be banned, with a halt on financial transactions and national assets frozen with empty aid.
What ECOWAS said
It also added that the military officials and members responsible for the coup and President’s capture would face a ban from travelling. Their assets too will serve as frozen.
Niger’s ex finance minister and present prime minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou who has been assisting the country under Bazaoum’s government said that ECOWAS sanctions would prove to be disastrous for Nigel because the country relies heavily on international partners to cover its budgetary needs.
The minister was out of the country when the coup happened, he elaborated on the catastrophe it will be if the sanctions get approved. As a finance minister, he understands the economic makeup of the country and is highly concerned if the nation will be able to resist imposition by ECOWAS.
Antony Blinken, US state secretary gave his statement that the institution welcomes ECOWAS’s action on this Sunday. He gave his declaration saying that the US is joining all those contributing to make Niger’s atmosphere peaceful. It supports ECOWAS and leaders associated with the region calling for the immediate release of President Mohammed Bazoum along with his family.
His words imply demands to restore all functions of the democracy.
To look into the efficiency of these sanctions, a similar series of sanctions were imposed by ECOWAS in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea as well following coups in those countries in the past three years.
Although the financial sanctions led to accumulation in debt, by default and for Mali in particular of all, the measures tended to hurt the sentiments and prepositions of civilians more than the military leaders who chose to seize power in these nations which are counted among the world’s poorest countries. Timelines to restore civilian rule have been agreed by all three countries, but only little progress has been seen in terms of implementation
