Coups In Niger; Causes And Concerns

Relevance: GS 2 - Effect of policies and politics of developed and developing countries on India’s interests, Indian diaspora; Prelims- Current events of International importance

(Source: The Hindu, 08/04/23)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, an army-led coup in Niger removed President Mohamed Bazoum Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger's first democratic transfer of power since independence in 1960.
• The head of Niger’s presidential guard, Abdourahmane Tchiani proclaimed himself as the head of the transitional government and has cited the worsening security situation and bad governance as the main reasons behind the coup.

Why did Niger's military stage a coup to oust President Bazoum?

• Insurgent attacks: The country’s leadership was unable to stop insurgent attacks despite the increase in foreign forces, especially from the US and France.
• The terrorist groups linked to al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and BokoHaram operate in the south-west near Malian and southeast near the Nigerian borders
• According to the Global Terrorism Index 2023, Niger experienced the sixth-highest civilian death toll in insurgent attacks in 2022, with 198 people losing their lives.
• Insecurity: The large number of foreign military troops and bases in the country has not been well received by the military.
• Anti-French sentiments in Niger have been rising since mid-2022, following the approval of France's Barkhane force redeployment after its initial withdrawal.
• Socio-economic issues: Declining economic prospects like rise inflation and corruption, and food insecurity
• Ethnicity and legitimacy of President: President Mohamed Bazoum Bazoum is from Niger’s ethnic Arab minority and has always been labeled as having foreign origins.

What are the concerns?

• Terrorism: Foreign troops are stationed in Niger to fight Islamist insurgencies in West Africa's semi-arid Sahel region.
• The Sahel is the vast semi-arid region of Africa separating the Sahara Desert to the north and tropical savannas to the south.
• The recent coup will embolden the terrorist groups in the region.
• Nuclear reserves: According to the World Nuclear Association (WNA), Niger is the world's seventh-biggest producer of uranium and has Africa's highest-grade uranium ores.
• Niger is the provider of 15 percent of France’s uranium needs and accounts for a fifth of the EU’s uranium stock.
• According to Euratom, Niger supplies 25.4 percent of Uranium to the EU countries. The coup has raised a new uncertainty over Niger’s Uranium export.
• Growing Russian influence: After the coup, protests in Niamey saw some waving Russian flags and chanting pro-Russian slogans.
• Niger may be leaning towards Russia as an alternative partner similar to Mali and Burkina Faso, as West African military governments prefer Russia's security partnership without conditions over the West's emphasis on democratic norms. This raises concerns about Russia's influence in the region.

Why is the regional response?

• African Union Peace and Security Council: The African Union Peace and Security Council expressed concern about the "alarming resurgence of coups" and called on the military to restore constitutional authority within 15 days and return soldiers to their barracks.
  • The Peace and Security Council (PSC) is the standing decision-making organ of the African Union for the prevention, management, and resolution of conflicts. It is a collective security and early warning arrangement intended to facilitate timely and efficient responses to conflict and crisis situations in Africa.
• ECOWAS: ECOWAS leaders have declared "zero tolerance" for coups and imposed financial sanctions on the junta while implementing a no-fly zone for all commercial flights over Niger.
• Neighbors: Mali and Burkina Faso have shown solidarity with the coup makers, while Guinea's President Mamady Doumbouya has expressed discontent with the imposed sanctions and the threat of force from ECOWAS.

Why are there several coups in the Sahel Region?

• The Sahel region includes six Francophone countries: Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, and Senegal, with a population of over a hundred million.
• These nations have faced challenges like political instability, economic struggles, ethnic tensions, and climate change impacts since gaining independence from France.
  • Weak governance,
  • corruption, and
  • slow progress
  • Ethnic conflicts and rebellions
• These reasons have led to military takeovers of elected governments in the name of restoring stability, which has unfortunately resulted in violence and human rights abuses.
• Niger: Niger has witnessed four successful coups and multiple attempted ones since gaining independence in 1960.
• The most recent attempt occurred in 2021, just before President Bazoum's inauguration.
• Others: Similarly, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea have experienced a combined total of five military coups since 2020.

Conclusion

• The attempted military coup in Niger threatens to undermine the relative progress the country has made under its civilian democratic leaders and amplifies Niger’s risks for insecurity, economic crises, and political instability.

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FAQs

MCQ

Question can be asked in this format in UPSC prelims on Borders of Niger

Question: Consider the following countries: (UPSC-2022)

1. Azerbaijan
2. Kyrgyzstan
3. Tajikistan
4. Uzbekistan
5. Turkmenistan

Which of the above have borders with Afghanistan?

(a) 1, 2 and 5 only

(b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 3, 4 and 5 only

(d) 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5