The African Union (AU) has suspended Niger from participating in its activities due to the recent military coup that transpired last month. The AU has additionally called upon its members to refrain from endorsing any actions that could lend legitimacy to the junta.
The military coup has raised concerns among Western allies and democratic African nations. They fear it could provide opportunities for Islamist groups active in the Sahel region to extend their influence and might give Russia a platform to amplify its presence.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been engaged in negotiations with the junta. However, ECOWAS has indicated its readiness to dispatch troops to Niger if diplomatic efforts fail, aiming to reinstate constitutional order.
In a rare glimmer of progress, ECOWAS mediator Abdulsalami Abubakar, a former military leader of Nigeria, described a weekend visit to Niger as “very productive.” He expressed optimism for a peaceful resolution, stating, “No one desires conflict.” Abubakar refrained from disclosing specifics but conveyed hope for progress in discussions with the junta.
The AU’s Peace and Security Council issued a communiqué asserting the activation of ECOWAS’s standby force and requested the AU Commission to evaluate the potential ramifications of deploying such a force in economic, social, and security terms.
Moreover, the AU called on the AU Commission to compile a list of the junta’s members and their supporters for targeted sanctions and individual punitive measures.
The AU’s statements were established during a council meeting held on August 14.
The AU reiterated its demand for the immediate release of the detained elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, and urged the coup leaders to return to their barracks.
Regional leaders have maintained a resolute stance against the coup, demonstrating their commitment to zero tolerance for coups in the region, despite resistance from the junta, which proposed a three-year timeline for elections, a plan that ECOWAS rejected.
Niger holds geopolitical significance as a base for U.S. and French troops combating Islamist militant groups. Additionally, the nation is one of the world’s most prominent uranium producers.
The White House National Security Adviser, Jake Sullivan, renewed calls for Bazoum’s release, stating that consultations with ECOWAS would persist. He emphasised the need for coordinated efforts to uphold democracy in Niger.
The AU strongly condemned external interference from non-African entities or countries, including engagements by private military companies. This statement likely alludes to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, active in Mali, which has been supportive of the coup.
Wu Peng, China’s top African diplomat, affirmed that Africans must resolve African issues themselves.
