The U.S. and France, through their statements, and through pressure and influence over regional groups, are threatening the military leaders that took power in Niger on July 26. U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken has threatened to cut off Washington’s “substantial” assistance. French President Emmanuel Macron, the former colonialist power over Niger, made similar threats on July 30, in which he vowed “immediate” action if French citizens or interests were attacked in Niger, after thousands of Nigeriens had rallied outside the French Embassy. His statement drew a public response by the Niger military leaders, who released a statement accusing the French of trying to organize a military intervention.
Niger has been the hub for the so-called “war against terror” in the Sahel region, which has not been all that successful after nearly two decades. France has some 1,500 troops in the country which is one of its last allies in the Sahel region, after French forces had to withdraw from neighboring Mali.
Moreover, Niger is the hub for U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), where U.S. generals come and go, and where two C-130 cargo planes are based.
The African Union released its own threat and set a deadline of 15 days for the restoration of constitutional order.
Member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have decided to close borders for the participants in the coup in Niger, reported Al-Jazeera television channel on July 30, citing the July 30 ECOWAS summit’s statement. ECOWAS has also decided to freeze the assets belonging to Niger’s military involved in the state coup. They also called for releasing Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum and reinstating the constitutional order, to be done within seven days, or there would be many punitive measures, including suspending commercial operations and financial assistance. If Niger’s ECOWAS membership is suspended it will be the fourth such suspension—the others being Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, where there had been recent military coups.
