On 26 July, one day after Niger’s presidential guard detained democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum, the army command endorsed the coup orchestrated by Abdourahmane Tchiani who, while declaring himself the leader of the newly established military junta, claimed that economic hardship, corruption and deteriorating security had made such move necessary (Schotte, 2023). After seizing power, the junta started to crack down on key political figures and fundamental freedoms: on 30 July, it arrested the ministers of petroleum, education and mines, as well as the ruling party’s head (Mednick, 2023). Meanwhile, junta spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane banned the use of social media to spread content which would allegedly harm national security (Mednick, 2023).

The establishment of the fourth military government in West and Central Africa after Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea met the response of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which issued a 7-day ultimatum to reinstate President Bazoum and imposed travel and economic sanctions on Niger (Pacot, 2023). These include: the closure of state borders, a ban on commercial flights, the suspension of foreign financial aid, a travel ban on military personnel carrying out the coup and the freezing of their personal assets (Pacot, 2023). Such individual restrictions also apply to their relatives and all the civilians accepting to join any institutions or the newly established executive (France 24, 2023).

Nigeria was the first state in the region to implement the ECOWAS sanctions: on 2 August, it disconnected the high voltage line supplying electricity from the Kainji dam (western Nigeria) to Niger (Africa News, 2023). Two days before, the Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) had cancelled a bond worth 30 billion CFA francs ($51 million), thus complicating Niger’s debt relief efforts (Al Jazeera, 2023). Such decision jeopardises the issuance of two other tranches on 7 and 17 August by Western Africa’s debt management agency (Al Jazeera, 2023). Moreover, the shutdown of borders blocks food imports from neighbouring countries like Benin has considerable repercussions on the corridor linking the Cotonou port and Niamey, which is one of the busiest crossings in the region with up to 1,000 vehicles transiting every day (Balima, 2023).

These measures were echoed by other key geopolitical and economic actors in the Nigerian context, with France suspending its €120-million development aid and budget support with immediate effect (Felix, 2023). The European Union did the same concerning its financial support and bilateral security cooperation to improve governance, raise education standards and promote sustainable growth, for which it had allocated €503 million from its budget for the 2021-2024 period (Felix, 2023). However, the United States merely warned that the military takeover could put an end to humanitarian and security aid (Holland & Psaledakis, 2023).

ECOWAS and Western powers’ sanctions will be catastrophic for Niger which, despite being the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium, relies on $2-billion annual development assistance (Felix, 2023). Regrettably, the ultimate price will likely be paid by the civilian population (Pacot, 2023), 3.3 million of whom already face severe food insecurity (Balima, 2023). This was reiterated by Prime Minister Mahamadou, who highlighted how people’s difficulty to cope with an embargo would add up to existing challenges like Niger’s landlocked geography and the dire financial situation (Pacot, 2023).

References

Africa News. (2023, 2 August). Nigeria cuts electricity to Niger after coup. https://www.africanews.com/2023/08/02/nigeria-cuts-electricity-to-niger-after-coup/.

Al Jazeera. (2023, 31 July). West African central bank cancels Niger $51m bond issuance due to sanctions. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/7/31/nigers-planned-51-mln-bond-issuance-cancelled-due-to-sanctions.

Balima, B. (2023, 2 August). With spoiling goods, Niger truckers feel early sting of coup sanctions, Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/with-spoiling-goods-niger-truckers-feel-early-sting-coup-sanctions-2023-08-02/.

Felix, B. (2023, 31 July). Factbox: What sanctions have been imposed on Niger since coup? Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/what-sanctions-have-been-imposed-niger-since-coup-2023-07-31/.

France 24. (2023, 30 July). ECOWAS gives Niger junta one week to cede power, threatens use of force. https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20230730-ecowas-set-to-meet-on-niger-coup-leaders-say-bloc-planning-military-intervention.

Holland, S. & Psaledakis, D. (2023, 29 July). US, partners communicating with military leaders in Niger, Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/white-house-says-deeply-concerned-by-niger-events-cooperation-risk-2023-07-28/.

Mednick, S. (2023, 1 August). Niger will face sanctions as democracy falls apart, adding to woes for more than 25 million people, AP News. https://apnews.com/article/niger-coup-west-africa-use-of-force-369ade0cb11447844a9265196f918ac8.

Pacot, É. (2023, 31 July). ECOWAS sanctions and ultimatum, anti-French demonstrations and the possible return of Wagner, a nebulous security situation for Niger, Atalayar. https://www.atalayar.com/en/articulo/politics/ecowas-sanctions-and-ultimatum-anti-french-demonstrations-and-the-possible-return-of-wagner-nebulous-security-situation-for-niger/20230731164508188971.html.

Schotte, J. (2023, 1 August). Niger: sanctions imposed after coup pose a risk to liquidity, Credendo. https://credendo.com/en/knowledge-hub/niger-sanctions-imposed-after-coup-pose-risk-liquidity.