Nigerien crisis (2023–2024)

2023 Nigerien crisis
Part of the aftermath of the 2023 Nigerien coup d'état
The political situation in ECOWAS as of 18 October 2024   Junta and allies   Supports Nigerien coup diplomatically   Opposes Nigerien coup diplomatically   Opposes Nigerien coup militarily
Date 29 July 2023 – present (2023-07-29 – present) (1 year, 2 months, 2 weeks and 5 days) Location Niger Status Ongoing ECOWAS ultimatum expired on 6 August Emergency summit on 10 August led to ECOWAS authorizing military intervention and ordering the immediate activation of its standby force Airspace closures across Niger Mobilization of Niger's armed forces Evacuations of foreign nationals by their respective governments Junta names 21 ministers and Prime Minister in new government ECOWAS military chiefs meet on 17–18 August to discuss potential intervention in Niger ECOWAS decides on a "D-Day" for military intervention against the junta if diplomatic solutions fail ECOWAS delegation meets with ousted president Bazoum Junta proposes three year transition period for return to civilian rule which ECOWAS rejected
Belligerents
Pro-Tchiani factions CNSP M62 Movement Volunteers for the Defense of Niger	Pro-Bazoum factions Cabinet of Niger PNDS-Tarayya Council of Resistance for the Republic
Burkina Faso Mali Supported by: Guinea	ECOWAS Benin Cape Verde The Gambia Ghana Guinea-Bissau Ivory Coast Liberia Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone Togo Supported by: France
Commanders and leaders
Abdourahamane Tchiani Ibrahim Traoré Assimi Goïta	Mohamed Bazoum Patrice Talon Adama Barrow Nana Akufo-Addo Umaro Embaló Alassane Ouattara George Weah Julius Maada Bio Faure Gnassingbé Bola Tinubu Macky Sall
Strength
30,000 soldiers	Western estimate: At least 5,000 ECOWAS stand-by force

On 26 July 2023, a coup d'état occurred in the Republic of the Niger, in which the country's presidential guard removed and detained President Mohamed Bazoum. Presidential guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a military junta shortly after confirming the coup a success.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gave Niger's coup leaders a one-week deadline on 30 July 2023 to reinstate Bazoum or face international sanctions and use of force. The ultimatum's deadline expired on 6 August and ECOWAS ordered the immediate activation of its standby force on 10 August. ECOWAS has previously intervened in The Gambia to restore democracy following the country's 2016–2017 constitutional crisis.

All active member states of ECOWAS, with the exception of Cape Verde, have pledged to contribute military troops from their armed forces in the event of an ECOWAS-led military intervention against the Nigerien junta, while the military juntas of Burkina Faso and Mali threatened to join the military intervention on Niger's side if it were to ever be launched.

Background

Main article: 2023 Nigerien coup d'état

File:Umfanekiso ka-Amadou Abdramane.png

Col. Major Amadou Abdramane during a television broadcast on 29 July 2023.

On 26 July 2023, the Nigerien presidency announced that presidential guards, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, were engaged in an "anti-Republican demonstration". President Mohamed Bazoum and his family were detained at the Presidential Palace in Niamey, and Interior Minister Hamadou Souley was also arrested. The coup was led by Tchiani, whom Bazoum had planned to relieve from his position. Sources close to Bazoum said he had decided on Tchiani's dismissal at a cabinet meeting on 24 July 2023 as their relations had become strained. The palace and adjacent ministries were blocked off by military vehicles, while civilian supporters of Bazoum who tried to approach the palace were dispersed by the Presidential Guard with gunfire, leaving one injured. Military units loyal to Bazoum initially surrounded the complex.

In the evening however, Air Force Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane announced on state television that Bazoum had been removed from power and announced the formation of a National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance. He also announced the dissolution of the country's constitution, the suspension of state institutions, the closure of borders, and a nationwide curfew from 22:00 until 05:00 local time, while warning against any foreign intervention. Subsequently, all activities by political parties in the country were ordered suspended until further notice.

Despite his detention, Bazoum has so far refused to resign. His Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou told France 24 that the country's "legal and legitimate power" remained with the president, while declaring himself acting head of state and calling for resistance against the coup. However, the leadership of the Nigerien armed forces declared its support for the coup to protect the president and avoid "a deadly confrontation."

On 28 July, Tchiani proclaimed himself as the president of the junta, saying that he had deposed Bazoum to avoid "the gradual and inevitable demise" of the country and accusing him of covering up the country's situation. Tchiani did not give a timeline for a return to civilian rule.

ECOWAS

Further information: ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is a regional, political and economic union of fifteen countries in West Africa, covering an area of 5,114,162 km2 (1,974,589 sq mi) and with an estimated population of over 387 million in 2019. Established in 1975, ECOWAS aims to achieve collective self-sufficiency for its member states by creating a single large trade bloc.

ECOWAS also serves as a peacekeeping force in the region, with member states occasionally sending joint military forces to intervene in the bloc's member countries at times of political instability and unrest. In recent years these included interventions in Ivory Coast in 2003, Liberia in 2003, Guinea-Bissau in 2012, Mali in 2013, and The Gambia in 2017.

Security situation

Further information: War on terror, Islamist insurgency in the Sahel, and Jihadist insurgency in Niger

The United States, France, and many other countries and groups have been involved in Niger because of the Islamist insurgency in the Sahel, which in turn triggered the Jihadist insurgency in Niger led by Al-Qaeda, Islamic State and Boko Haram. The United States, France, and Turkey have had bases in the country. In 2022, it became a hub of French anti-terror operations after its departure from Mali and Burkina Faso following a series of military coups and anti-French sentiment which paved the way for Russian influence and the entry of its private mercenary firm Wagner Group in the region. At the same time, it also paved the way for Turkish influence in the region.

Timeline

29 July

The military junta accused ECOWAS in a statement read by Abdramane on Tele Sahel of planning to approve "a plan of aggression against Niger through an imminent military intervention in Niamey supported by certain Western countries" and warned of the junta's "strong determination" to defend the country. They claimed that this was the objective of the ECOWAS summit convened for the following day.

The African Union Peace and Security Council issued an ultimatum that if the soldiers did not "immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional democracy, within a maximum of fifteen days" that the bloc would be compelled to take "necessary action, including punitive measures against perpetrators".

30 July

ECOWAS ultimatum and sanctions

On 30 July, ECOWAS issued the Nigerien military junta with an ultimatum that Bazoum be reinstated as president within one week. In a communiqué read by ECOWAS Commission chairperson Omar Touray, at the Extraordinary Summit convened in Abuja in response to the coup, they said that if their demands were not met they would "take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order” in Niger and that "such measures may include the use of force". The response from the bloc towards the junta drastically differed from the measures taken with recent coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea which did not involve the threat of force for reinstating the overthrown government.

ECOWAS also announced "immediate sanctions" on Niger, including the closure of land and air borders, imposition of a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger and the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS and Niger. The assets of Niger state enterprises were frozen by the ECOWAS Central Bank, leading to the cancellation of a 30 billion CFA francs ($51 million) bond issuance.

Pro-coup demonstrations in Niamey

In a march at the request of Tchiani and organized by the M62 Movement, which had previously opposed Bazoum's government and Operation Barkhane and supported the Russian invasion of Ukraine, thousands of pro-coup Nigeriens gathered in Niamey's Place de la Concertation, in front of the National Assembly, and went to the French Embassy carrying Nigerien and Russian flags, with slogans such as "Down with France, out with Barkhane, we don't care about ECOWAS, the European Union and the African Union!", "Arrest the former dignitaries to return the stolen millions.", and "Down with France, long live Putin!". The demonstrators also called for an immediate intervention by the Wagner Group. During the march, the entrances to the French and American embassies were closed. The French embassy's walls and gates were set ablaze and damaged whilst Nigerien soldiers and General Salifou Modi were seen on the ground urging the crowds to disperse peacefully. The crowd left after police fired volleys of tear gas in response. Images showed people being loaded into ambulances with bloodied legs.

In response to the attack on its embassy, the French government warned that attacks on its nationals, military personnel, diplomats and interests would lead to an immediate and intractable response.

31 July

On the behest of ECOWAS, Chad's president Mahamat Déby met with Tchiani and Bazoum at the presidential palace in Niamey. The Chadian Presidency released pictures of the meeting, marking Bazoum's first appearance since the coup. Meanwhile, Colonel Abdremane accused Hassoumi Massaoudou, still claiming to be acting leader substituting for Bazoum, of authorizing a French attack on the presidential palace to liberate Bazoum. The French Foreign Ministry denied there were any such plans.

Bazoum's oil minister Mahamane Sani Mahamadou (son of former president Mahamadou Issoufou), mining minister Ousseini Hadizatou and the head of the PNDS national executive committee, Foumakoye Gado were arrested by the military junta. This followed the arrests of Transport Minister Oumarou Malam Alma and former defense minister Kalla Moutari the previous week.

The Central Bank of West African States (BCEAO) cancelled a planned 30 billion CFA franc ($51 million) bond issuance by Niger in the West African regional debt market.

1 August

The military junta announced that it had reopened Niger's borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Libya, and Chad.

2 August

Rolling blackouts were reported across cities in Niger, which the state electricity company Nigelec blamed on Nigeria cutting off supplies. While the Transmission Company of Nigeria declined to comment, an anonymous source told the BBC that the move followed a directive from President Bola Tinubu. The World Bank suspended disbursements to Niger until further notice.

Military chiefs of ECOWAS member states met in Abuja, Nigeria to discuss the situation in Niger. At the same time, a confidential military signal was picked up by Inside Nigeria, giving orders to the Nigerian military to name units for a military operation against Niger, mobilize the armed forces and establish a no-fly zone. Hours later, Ivory Coast issued a statement in which it supported the ECOWAS sanctions and announced the country's participation in a preparation for a military intervention in Niger.

A delegation of the Nigerien military junta headed by General Salifou Mody traveled to Bamako, Mali and then to Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Speculation arose as to whether they went to ask for the support of the Wagner Group, which has a presence in Mali.

In a televised address, Tchiani called the sanctions imposed on the country "cynical and iniquitous" and said they were intended to "humiliate" Niger's security forces and make the country "ungovernable". He insisted that his regime would not give in to such threats and called on citizens to defend the country.

3 August

File:General C.G. Musa - 03-08-2023.jpg

Nigerian Major General Christopher Gwabin Musa at the extraordinary meeting of the ECOWAS chiefs of defence staff on 3 August 2023.

ECOWAS sent another delegation to Niger to negotiate with the junta, this time led by former Nigerian military leader Abdulsalami Abubakar and also including the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar, and Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS Commission. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security said that "The military option is the very last option on the table, the last resort, but we have to prepare for the eventuality." However, the delegates failed to meet with Tchiani and other junta members and left the same day.

Another pro-coup demonstration was held in Niamey's Independence Square on the occasion of Niger's 63rd Independence Day. This time, security forces blocked roads leading to the French and U.S. embassies to prevent attacks and vandalism.

Senegal's foreign minister, Aïssata Tall Sall, and her counterpart in Benin, Shegun Adjadi Bakari, confirmed that their countries would participate in a military intervention in Niger if approved by ECOWAS.

The military junta blocked France 24 and Radio France Internationale (RFI) in Niger, as had happened months before in Mali and Burkina Faso. France 24 was followed weekly by a quarter of the Nigerien population and RFI was the most followed international station in the country. France Médias Monde, the owner of both media networks, protested the decision.

The junta also announced Niger's withdrawal from its military agreements with France, notably those allowing French troops to be stationed in the country and regulating the status of military personnel fighting Islamist jihad on Nigerien soil. In a separate announcement, after peace talks failed, it ordered the withdrawal of Niger's ambassadors to France, Nigeria, Togo and the United States. In response, France said that it took note of the junta's actions, but proceeded to remind them that the deals were signed between "legitimate" authorities.

In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, Bazoum, calling himself a "hostage", called on the United States and the international community to restore constitutional order in Niger, warning that the coup would have devastating domestic and international consequences.

4 August

The junta lifted the curfew it imposed since 26 July.

Tinubu requested the Senate of Nigeria to authorize an intervention in Niger. Images revealed that in recent days Nigerian troops had accumulated on the border with Niger.

A former adviser to Bazoum told CNN that some 130 officials from his government had been arrested since the coup, while many others were in hiding.

The United States announced that it was suspending "certain foreign assistance programmes benefitting the government of Niger" but clarified that it would not include humanitarian and food assistance, as well as diplomatic and security operations to protect U.S. personnel.

Burkina Faso raised the alert level of its armed forces to "state of war".

Jihadists belonging to Islamic State attacked a convoy of Malian soldiers heading for Niger, leading to 20 casualties.

5 August

Reports emerged that the junta, through General Salifou Mody, had formally asked for assistance from the Wagner Group during his visit to Mali.

After meeting with Bazoum's Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou in Paris, French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna announced the country's support for an ECOWAS intervention in Niger, without specifying whether it would provide military support.

The Nigerian Senate rejected President Tinubu's request to authorize military intervention in Niger, instead urging him to resolve the crisis by more diplomatic means and to "tread with caution". However, the Constitution of Nigeria still permits the President to deploy troops abroad without Senate approval if the President believes the national security is under "imminent threat or danger". A group of senators representing regions near or bordering Niger stated their opposition to military intervention.

Chad announced that it would not participate in an ECOWAS-led military intervention against the junta.

6 August

The one-week deadline for the military junta to hand power back to Bazoum or face military intervention expired without ECOWAS carrying out its threat.

In Niamey, around 30,000 people joined a pro-junta demonstration at Stade Général Seyni Kountché that was also attended by junta member General Mohamed Toumba.

Algerian president Abdelmadjid Tebboune expressed his opposition to any military intervention, stating that such actions could "ignite the whole Sahel region".

The junta gave France 30 days to vacate Niger, in accordance with the 1977 Agreement of Technical Military Cooperation.

The junta closed the country's airspace again, citing the threat of military intervention, with spokesman Colonel Abdremane claiming that there had been a pre-deployment of forces in two Central African countries, whom he did not identify. It also accused a "foreign power" of preparing "an attack" on the country in coordination with ECOWAS.

The Nigerien military began bringing in reinforcements to Niamey in anticipation of an invasion, with a convoy of about 40 pick-up trucks arriving at nightfall.

7 August

Italian foreign minister Antonio Tajani called on ECOWAS to extend the ultimatum's deadline.

Mali and Burkina Faso announced plans to send delegates to Niger to "express solidarity" with the junta.

Prime Minister of Biafra Republic Government in Exile Simon Ekpa said it would support the junta and it's allies in the event of an ECOWAS intervention.

ECOWAS announced plans to hold a summit on 10 August to discuss their next steps in the situation in Niger.

Acting U.S. deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland met with junta member and military chief of staff General Moussa Salaou Barmou in Niamey for two hours to offer U.S. help to restore the constitutional government, but indicated that the junta did not accept the idea, adding that the conversations were "extremely frank and at times quite difficult". The junta also did not allow her to meet with Bazoum and described him as under "virtual house arrest".

The junta appointed economist Ali Lamine Zeine as the new prime minister. Zeine had served as finance minister until 2010. He later worked at the African Development Bank.

8 August

A joint delegation composed of officials from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and the AU attempted to hold talks with the junta, but were denied entry. In response, Nigeria announced additional sanctions aimed at individuals involved in the coup through the Nigerian Central Bank.

An unnamed Nigerian government official stated that Nigeria can provide more than half of the 25,000 troops for an invasion of Niger.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington supported West African efforts to restore constitutional order in Niger. In a separate interview with the BBC, Blinken also said that while the United States did not believe the Nigerien coup was instigated by Russia or the Wagner Group, they had tried to take advantage of it, warning that adverse consequences would follow in the wake of the Wagner Group's entry.

9 August

Blinken said that he had spoken to Bazoum, demanding his release from detention and expressing support for a "peaceful resolution" to the crisis in Niger.

Rhissa Ag Boula, former leader of the Front for the Liberation of Aïr and Azaouak (FLAA) that participated in two rebellions by the Tuareg people in the 1990s and the 2000s accused the junta of orchestrating a "tragedy" and announced the formation of a Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR), which aimed to topple the junta and restore Bazoum to office. He also said that it supported international intervention by ECOWAS and other actors in doing so. Another CRR member said several Nigerien political figures had joined the group but refused to come out publicly for safety reasons.

The junta arrested the son of Niger's ambassador to France, Aïchatou Boulama Kané, who was also dismissed by the new junta.

A statement from Bazoum's political party, PNDS-Tarayya said that he and his family had been without both electricity and running water for a week, and had only dried and canned foods left to eat.

The foreign ministers of Mali and Burkina Faso issued a joint letter to the UN and the AU, calling for the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council to prevent any military action against Niger.

The junta accused France of releasing 16 "terrorist elements" who later launched an attack on a unit of the National Guard in Bourkou Bourkou, 30 kilometres (19 mi) from the Samira Hill Gold Mine in the Tillabéri Region, which killed five soldiers and injured four. It also accused France of sending a military aircraft to violate Nigerien airspace as part of a broader plan to destabilise the country. The French Foreign Ministry denied the claims and the veracity of the attack, while insisting that the plane's entry were part of an earlier agreement with Nigerien forces.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, former Emir of Kano and Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria who is also a revered Sufi Islamic spiritual leader in the region, visited Niger and met with Tchiani. No details of their discussion were immediately available.

Another meeting between the joint ECOWAS, UN and EU mission with the junta was postponed after the latter said it was not the right time to meet them.

10 August

The junta declared a new government, naming 21 ministers led by Prime Minister Zeine in an announcement on state television by “secretary-general of the government” Mahamane Roufai Laouali. Three generals who were members of the CNSP were named to head the interior (Mohamed Toumba), defense (Salifou Mody) and sports ministries.

ECOWAS summit

ECOWAS opened its second emergency meeting in Abuja regarding the situation in Niger, with Tinubu reiterating in his opening address that the bloc would assess solutions to the situation and called the coup a "threat" to West Africa. It was unclear if there were any representatives from Burkina Faso, Guinea or Niger. However, Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, whose country left ECOWAS in 2000, and Burundian president Évariste Ndayishimiye also attended. Following the summit, ECOWAS ordered the immediate activation of its standby military force with the purpose of restoring constitutional order in Niger.

11 August

The junta threatened to kill Bazoum if ECOWAS were to launch an intervention.

Thousands of junta supporters protested near a French military base on the outskirts of Niamey chanting anti-French slogans and waving Russian flags.

In an interview with The Guardian, Bazoum's daughter said she had remained in near-daily phone contact with detained members of her family from Paris, and added that they had been losing weight under deteriorating health conditions.

Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara said an intervention would take place as soon as possible.

Blinken voiced support for ECOWAS without explicitly backing a military intervention. Blinken also reiterated that the United States would hold the junta accountable for the safety of Bazoum, his family, and other detained members of his government.

Russia warned ECOWAS against military intervention, claiming that it would result in a "protracted confrontation" and destabilize the Sahel region.

A Nigerian government source said the junta met with two envoys of President Tinubu in Niamey, but did not reveal the details of their discussion.

ECOWAS suspended a key military meeting to inform the organization's leaders about “the best options” for activating and deploying the standby force citing "technical concerns."

ECOWAS member state Cape Verde announced that it was against military intervention, saying that the country was unlikely to participate in such a campaign, and stressed that the block should seek a diplomatic resolution to the crisis.

12 August

Niger's ambassador in Washington, Mamadou Kiari Liman-Tinguiri, called on the United States and other allies of Bazoum to stage a "rescue mission" to save his life, claiming that the junta was starving him to death.

A junta delegation led by General Moussa Salaou Barmou met with Guinean military leader Mamady Doumbouya in Conakry, who reiterated his junta's solidarity with Niger's.

Insa Garba Saidou, a local pro-junta activist from Niamey in direct contact with the military government, stated that the junta would not enter negotiations with ECOWAS unless it was recognized as the legitimate government of Niger.

Another demonstration was held in Niamey by thousands of junta supporters against ECOWAS and foreign military intervention.

The junta said that local religious leaders met with the military government seeking to mediate between it and ECOWAS.

Burkina Faso suspended the Omega media group, a radio station owned and operated by former foreign minister Alpha Barry, for airing an "insulting" interview with Nigerien pro-Bazoum spokesman Ousmane Abdoul Moumouni, which criticized the junta and supported Bazoum's restoration. The government claimed the interview "clearly” campaigned for “violence and war against the sovereign people of Niger."

ECOWAS announced plans to send a delegation to Niamey to enter negotiations with the junta on the prospect of a peaceful restoration of Bazoum as president.

Due to his deteriorating health, Bazoum was visited by a physician, who gave him and his family food.

13 August

A Nigerian-sponsored delegation said the junta was open to diplomacy to resolve the standoff with ECOWAS.

The junta announced that it would prosecute Bazoum for "high treason" and "undermining the country's security".

14 August

The AU Peace and Security Council convened at its headquarters situated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with the purpose of receiving a comprehensive update regarding the unfolding events in Niger, along with the concerted endeavors undertaken to effectively address and manage the prevailing situation.

The United States and United Nations expressed their concerns over the junta's intention to prosecute former President Bazoum. The U.S. said it believed that it would escalate tensions and hinder the chances of a peaceful resolution to the crisis. UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said that the plans were “very worrying”. ECOWAS called it "provocational", stating that the junta contradicted their earlier willingness on negotiations and dialogue.

Military-installed Prime Minister Zeine characterized the sanctions imposed on the junta by ECOWAS as an "unfair challenge". Nonetheless, he conveyed optimism regarding the country's capacity to overcome these challenges.

At least six soldiers, including their commanding officer, were killed in an ambush by "terrorists" on an army convoy near Sanam, Tillaberi Region. The army claimed it had "neutralized" ten of the attackers.

An appeals court cancelled a nine-month prison sentence handed out to Abdoulaye Seydou, leader of the M62 Movement, regarding a case involving an army air strike on suspected jihadists in southern Niger.

15 August

Zeine visited Chad and met with Déby and prime minister Saleh Kebzabo. Upon his return, Zeine announced that the junta "reiterated" its support for dialogue, but "insisted on the need for the country to be independent".

In a phone call with the leader of the Malian junta, Assimi Goïta, Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterated the use of "exclusively peaceful political and diplomatic means" to resolve the Niger crisis.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said that the situation in Niger "looks like an attempted coup", reflecting the United States’ continued refusal to call the events in Niger a coup d'état.

Residents of Niamey began preparations for a voluntary mass recruitment of citizens over the age of 18 to assist the military in case of an invasion. Organizers said that the process will begin on 19 August, especially on the borders with Benin and Nigeria.

Niger's defence ministry reported that armed groups launched an assault on an army detachment near Koutougou near the Malian and Burkina Faso border that killed at least 17 Nigerien soldiers and injured 20. The military claimed to have "neutralized" 100 militants. ECOWAS condemned the attack and sent condolences to the affected families.

Germany called on the junta to release Bazoum and restore constitutional order. The UN said it would send mediators to Niamey for peace talks.

16 August

The junta recalled Niger's ambassador to Ivory Coast in response to Ouattara's declaration of support for armed intervention against the junta.

Former president Mahamadou Issoufou called for the release of Bazoum and his return to power during an interview with Jeune Afrique.

17 August

ECOWAS military chiefs convened a two-day meeting in Accra, Ghana to discuss a possible military intervention against the junta. The bloc stated that all its active member states except for Cape Verde were ready to participate in the standby force to restore Bazoum.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called on the EU to impose sanctions on the junta after holding talks with Blinken, AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, and other stakeholders.

U.S. Major General J. Marcus Hicks, former commander of Special Operations Command Africa, stated in an interview with CNN that the United States was looking for ways to maintain its military presence in Niger regardless of the government in charge, hence why the Pentagon and White House refrained from calling the actions in Niger a coup. Hicks added that the U.S. military intended to keep its military and drone bases in Niger should the junta prevail.

Togolese religious heads in a meeting of major Roman Catholic bishops in West Africa, announced their opposition to a military intervention, and called on ECOWAS and the junta to enter into bilateral diplomatic talks. They raised concerns that an intervention would only destabilize the region, and beckoned on the involved parties to "not add to the plight of the Nigerien people".

18 August

The UN's human rights chief Volker Türk registered disagreement over plans by the junta to prosecute Bazoum, saying that the charges against him had no "legal basis".

The U.S. Air Forces Africa declared its readiness to evacuate American drone bases in Niger as the situation heightens.

At the end of its military commanders' meeting in Accra, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah said that the bloc had set a "D-day" for a possible military intervention against the junta but refused to disclose when. Nonetheless, the body maintained that it was still open to diplomatic means to resolve the crisis.

Nigerian President Tinubu warned of "grave consequences" if Bazoum's health further deteriorates in detention.

In response to fears for Bazoum's safety, Prime Minister Zeine said that "nothing will happen to him," arguing that "we do not have a tradition of violence in Niger."

19 August

An ECOWAS delegation headed by Abdulsalami Abubakar arrived in Niamey for talks with the junta, joining with UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel Leonardo Santos Simao, who arrived on 18 August. The group met with Tchiani and later Bazoum. However, an official later said that the roughly two-hour discussion with the junta yielded little results.

Mali and Burkina Faso dispatched Super Tucano warplanes to Niger in a show of solidarity with the junta following ECOWAS’ military meeting in Accra.

The junta announced the formation of the Volunteers for the Defense of Niger (VDN), a civilian militia force to combat a potential military intervention by ECOWAS. Recruitment for volunteers was expected to commence on 26 August in Niamey.

During an address on national television, Tchiani announced a three-year transition to civilian rule and said that the junta did not aim "to confiscate power", adding that a military intervention would "not be the walk in the park some people seem to think". He also announced a 30-day period of “national dialogue” to draw up “concrete proposals” to lay the foundations of “a new constitutional life”.

Pro-junta supporters were forced to halt a census of people willing to volunteer for non-military roles in defence against ECOWAS intervention, saying they had been overwhelmed by the numbers who turned up.

US Ambassador Kathleen A. FitzGibbon arrived in Niger to lead a diplomatic mission and bolster efforts to help resolve the crisis.

20 August

Several thousand people demonstrated in Niamey in support of the junta.

Pope Francis expressed hope for a peaceful solution to the crisis in Niger.

ECOWAS rejected the junta’s three-year transition plan to civilian rule saying it would only accept a transfer of power in the shortest possible time. It also said that plans for military intervention in Niger had been finalized and military forces were ready to move upon orders, while political leaders still favored diplomacy to solve the crisis.

21 August

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said he opposed a military intervention in Niger.

A convoy of around 300 supply trucks from Burkina Faso arrived in Niamey.

ECOWAS once again told the junta to release Bazoum without preconditions and restore constitutional order without further delay. They also stated the outcome of ongoing informal discussions would determine whether ECOWAS would send another mediation mission to Niger.

In Nigeria, protests erupted in Kano State over the proposed use of force to resolve the crisis.

Evacuation of foreign nationals

On 1 August, the French foreign ministry announced that it was preparing to evacuate its citizens and that of other European nationals starting that day, citing the unrest in Niamey, the attack on its embassy, and the closure of Niger's airspace.

The Spanish Defense Ministry said it would evacuate more than 70 Spanish nationals in Niger by air. A Romanian citizen was among the evacuees taken by Spain.

On 2 August, the first evacuation flights were carried out, with an Italian military plane landing in Rome with 87 evacuees and 262 evacuees arriving on a French evacuation flight in Paris. In total, 1,079 people were evacuated by France. Among the French evacuees were four Romanian citizens.

The U.S. State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency government personnel and eligible family members from its Embassy, which would remain open for "limited, emergency services to U.S. citizens." The United Kingdom also ordered a reduction of staff at its embassy.

In response to the evacuations, the M62 Movement called for a peaceful blockade of Niamey International Airport until "foreign military forces left the country".

Misinformation

False claims have been shared online exacerbating tensions brought by the crisis.

• There is no evidence of Wagner Group mercenaries being deployed in Niger. Despite this, several media outlets and social media users falsely claimed that Wagner Group forces were supposedly deployed to Niamey, through a misidentified video of a Russian Air Force Ilyushin Il-76 landing in what they claimed to be in Niamey International Airport. However, fact-checkers from the BBC later identified this video as footage from 2006 recorded in Khartoum, Sudan. Old video footage of Wagner Group mercenaries in Africa and Ukraine have also been used to falsely claim that the group was in Niger. Likewise, false claims were also made about French fighter jets landing in Senegal to support an ECOWAS intervention and Burkinabe troops arriving in Niger to defend the junta.
• False claims started circulating that the Nigerien junta ordered the military to detain European nationals. It was claimed that this was done to persuade Western nations to pull their military troops out of Niger. The claim appears to be based on a demand made by the anti-French and pro-junta M62 movement for the hostage-taking of European citizens until foreign forces withdraw. However, the group does not speak for the junta, as junta leader Tchiani stated that French nationals "have never been the object of the slightest threat" and had nothing to fear.
• False claims posted online suggested that the junta had "with immediate effect, banned the export of uranium to France". There is no evidence that the junta had done so. A similar claim was made that Burkina Faso and Mali were also banning the export of uranium, despite neither country having any active uranium mines. Additionally, false claims that Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso were banning all gold exports were widely circulated.
• There have been claims made about Algeria, speculating that it would back the junta in the event of a foreign invasion, according to "Algerian news outlets". Although Algeria has stated that it opposes military action, it has not explicitly stated that should such action be taken, it would support the junta. Although Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune officially condemned the coup, he has also condemned military action against the junta and offered to mediate with it, and stated that an intervention would likely be a repeat of the situation in Libya.
• Amateur footage of a large pro-Bazoum rally in Niamey dated 6 August turned out to have been filmed on the day of Bazoum's removal on 26 July.
• Video purportedly showing Bazoum's finance minister in tears after being threatened by the junta with execution over missing funds turned out to be taken from 2021 showing former Justice Minister Marou Amadou expressing his gratitude to former President Mahamadou Issoufou.

Identified sources

Prior to the coup, Bazoum had accused the Wagner Group of sponsoring "disinformation campaigns" against him and his government. Other sources identifying with the junta include the Pan-African Group for Trade and Investment (GPCI), which is a media firm founded by pro-Russian Burkinabè businessman Harouna Douamba, and the pan-Africanist TV channel Afrique Media based in Cameroon, which falsely reported Bazoum's resignation on 9 August and has a partnership with the Russian state-controlled media outlet Russia Today.

Impact

At least 4.3 million people in Niger are in need of aid including access to food, medicine, and basic goods. According to the United Nations, the figure is likely to rise as international sanctions come into effect. Airspace closure by the junta also complicate efforts to bring humanitarian aid into the country.

See also

• Coup Belt
• 2020 Malian coup d'état
• 2021 Malian coup d'état
• 2021 Guinean coup d'état
• January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état
• September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état