West African regional group weighs next steps on Niger
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[August 12, 2023]
DAKAR (Reuters) - West African leaders were weighing their
next moves on Saturday as they seek to overturn a military coup in Niger
that has rocked the region but also triggered a groundswell of support
in the country.
Niger's military last month imprisoned President Mohamed Bazoum and
assumed power, drawing condemnation from international powers and
raising the specter of further conflict in the impoverished Sahel region
of West Africa which is already overrun by a deadly Islamist insurgency.
The regional bloc ECOWAS on Thursday decided to activate a task force
drawing on troops from across the region for a possible military
intervention to undo what was the seventh coup in West and Central
Africa in three years.
At stake is not just the fate of Niger - a major uranium producer and
key Western ally in the fight against the Islamists - but also the
concerns of global powers with key strategic interests in the
semi-desert zone.
U.S., French, German and Italian troops are stationed in Niger to repel
local affiliates of al Qaeda and Islamic State that have killed
thousands and displaced millions across the Sahel.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Aug/12/images/ads/current/remington_sda_FAIR_2023.png)
Western powers fear Russian influence could grow stronger if the junta
in Niger follows Mali's example by ejecting Western troops and inviting
in mercenaries from Russia's Wagner Group.
Thousands of people gathered in Niger's capital on Friday to demonstrate
in favor of the coup. The rally began at a French military base in the
capital Niamey, then protesters with signs and flags spread onto
surrounding streets.
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![](../images/081223PIX/news_t26.jpg)
Niger's junta supporters take part in a
demonstration in front of a French army base in Niamey, Niger,
August 11, 2023. REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Aug/12/images/ads/current/graue_lda_WHITETRUCKpreowned_073123.jpg)
"Long live Russia," one protester's sign read. "Down with France....
Down with ECOWAS," referring to the Economic Community of West
African States.
Regional army chiefs were set to meet in the coming days. It was not
yet clear how long the ECOWAS force would take to assemble, how big
it would be and if it would actually invade. The organization
stressed that all options were on the table and it hoped for a
peaceful resolution.
Security analysts said the force could take weeks to set up,
potentially leaving room for negotiations.
Meanwhile, the African Union, the European Union, the United States
and the United Nations all said they were increasingly worried about
Bazoum's detention conditions.
The U.N. Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Friday said
the conditions were "rapidly deteriorating" and could amount to a
violation of international human rights law.
(Reporting by Edward McAllister; Editing by Ingrid Melander and Mark
Potter)
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