Mutinous soldiers in Niger sever French military ties while ‘hostage’ president pleads for US help

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Rebellious troops in Niger have terminated military relations with France while the captive President seeks US intervention.

The military coup in Niger has escalated with the junta deciding to cut off military ties with its previous colonial master, France. They have also sacked key ambassadors of the preceding government and alerted citizens to be cautious of foreign military and espionage activities. A deadlock quickly ensued in attempts at mediation by a regional delegation.

The announcement by the junta late Thursday further intensified the isolation following the coup for the United States and its allies, who have been partnering with Niger as a major security ally in the Sahel. The Sahel, an extensive region south of the Sahara Desert, has become the epicenter of global terrorism due to infiltration by Islamic extremist groups.

President Mohamed Bazoum, who is under the threat of possible force if not released and reinstated by a deadline set by the West African regional bloc, appealed to the US and its allies for assistance in an op-ed published in the Washington Post.

The soldiers orchestrating the coup are approaching a Sunday deadline given by the regional grouping, ECOWAS, whose representatives arrived on Thursday for negotiations. However, the talks have not progressed, with the envoys unable to establish contact with the coup leader, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, or enter the capital, Niamey.

The junta’s latest announcements cast further doubt on any potential agreement. In addition to terminating military contracts with France, they have ended the ambassadorial roles of Niger’s representatives to France, the United States, Togo, and neighboring Nigeria.

In response, France’s Foreign Ministry reiterated that it recognizes only the legitimate authorities in Niger and called for the restoration of Niger’s democratic institutions.

President Bazoum pointed out that Niger’s security situation had been improving prior to the coup and appealed to the international community to help restore the country’s constitutional order.

The US, which maintains 1,100 military personnel in Niger, including at a key drone base, has shown reluctance to withdraw, especially considering the growing influence of Russia’s private military group, Wagner, in the Sahel.

Despite numerous coups in the region, ECOWAS has been unsuccessful in countering them and is attempting to take a different approach with Niger. Nigeria’s President informed lawmakers of ECOWAS’s intention to intervene militarily in Niger if the coup leaders do not yield.

However, concerns have been raised about potential risks to President Bazoum and the likelihood of the junta arming civilian militias to resist intervention.

Given these concerns, many analysts have little confidence in negotiation efforts.

Niger’s citizens, who live in one of the poorest nations in the world, could face devastating consequences if foreign aid is cut off. The ECOWAS has already suspended all commercial and financial transactions with Niger and frozen Nigerien assets in regional central banks.

There are concerns that the coup could also impact the export of uranium from Niger, which provides 5% of the world’s supply, according to the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Despite these grim prospects, some residents in Niamey believe things cannot get any worse.

This information is credited to AP writers Chinedu Asadu in Abuja, Nigeria; Elaine Ganley in Paris; Carley Petesch in Chicago, and James Heintz.

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• Background on Niger
• Overview of Niger’s political history
• Details on France-Niger relations
• Information on ECOWAS
• More about the Sahel region
• Understanding the global uranium market