2023-07-31 16:51:41
Economic blockade and ultimatum from the countries of the region: the junta which took power in Niger is under intense international pressure.
This time, the answer will not be long in coming. After allowing a succession of military coups in Mali and Burkina Faso since 2020, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stepped up to the plate, announcing strong measures in the face of the putsch orchestrated once morest the government of Niger. The announcement of economic sanctions materialized on Monday with a cut in supplies to the state apparatus: a first debt issue of 30 billion CFA francs (46 million euros), scheduled for Monday, has been canceled by the regional central bank (BCEAO).
An ultimatum
On July 26, Niger’s presidential guard, led by General Abdourahamane Tchiani, arrested President Mohamed Bazoum and his family in his official residence. The other components of Niger’s military apparatus had supported the general, indicating that they wanted to avoid bloodshed.
At the end of an extraordinary meeting convened on Sunday in Abuja (Nigeria), the heads of state of ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to the putschists. President Mohamed Bazoum, whom they continue to hold as Niger’s legitimate head of state, must be freed, and constitutional order must be restored: if this is not the case “within a week” , Niger’s neighbors stand ready to take all necessary measures, including “the use of force”.
This firmness, of which ECOWAS is not customary, bears the signature of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, who has just taken over the presidency of the Community and has a strong speech in favor of democracy.
A new firmness
They did not wait for the deadline to impose sanctions. In addition to the suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between the countries of the monetary zone and Niger – including those relating to petroleum products and electricity -, West African countries have decreed the closure of borders, an exclusion zone for all commercial flights, the freezing of services, the freezing of state and corporate assets, and the freezing of assets of the officers involved in the hit.
This firmness, of which ECOWAS is not customaryseems to mark a desire not to let another putsch pass, and bears the signature of the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu, who has just taken over the presidency of the Community and has a strong speech in favor of democracy.
These regional sanctions are in addition to other international sanctions, in particular those of the France and Germany, which in turn announced the suspension of their budgetary and development aid to Niger – one of the poorest countries in the world, which is largely dependent on foreign aid.
A radioactive issue
In the background of this crisis, an unknown remains the attitude that France will adopt, brandished as a scapegoat for the ills of the country by the junta. Monday, the latter accused Paris of “wanting to intervene militarily”. One of the putschist officers even claimed on state television that the overthrown government had authorized Paris to carry out strikes in an attempt to free Mohamed Bazoum. The Quai d’Orsay has indicated for its part that it has no other objective than the safety of its nationals.
The former colonial power has 1,500 soldiers on site, deployed as part of a partnership to fight once morest armed militias in the region, including the Islamic State in the Sahel. On Sunday, thousands of people had demonstrated in Niamey in front of the French embassy – some displaying Russian flags, and the president Emmanuel Macron had warned that Paris would respond “immediately and intractably” to any attack once morest French people or French interests.
If the junta continues, France might be forced to leave the country, as it was in Mali following the junta took power, supported by mercenaries from the Russian group Wagner. The leader of the latter, Evguéni Prigojine, has also welcomed the coup carried out in Niger – while the Kremlin adopted an agreed diplomatic posture, calling for the restoration of the rule of law.
The scenario of a French and, therefore, European stall, would have particular strategic implications in the case of Niger, which is an important reservoir of uranium. The “yellowcake” (uranium concentrate) is extracted there and shipped to France via the company Orano (ex-Areva), which controls three mining sites there and indicates that it is continuing its activities there. The country only supplies France’s 56 nuclear reactors with 10 to 15% of their needs, according to Orano. In 2021, Niger represented only 4.7% of the world’s production of natural uranium, but it was the leading supplier in the European Union (24%)ahead of Kazakhstan (23%) and Russia (20%) – whose nuclear sector remains unaffected by sanctions.
The summary
- Economic sanctions once morest Niger entered into force, and a first debt issue was cancelled.
- The pressure is not only economic: the countries of the region are brandishing the threat of armed intervention.
- France is on the alert, while the strategic issue of uranium is added to the issue of regional stability.
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