The United States has expressed its support for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in their efforts to defend constitutional order in Niger. This comes after the Niger military took President Mohamed Bazoum into custody in their third attempted coup in as many years.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken commended the leadership of ECOWAS for their strong stance in protecting the will of the Nigerien people and upholding the principles of zero tolerance for unconstitutional change. The US called for the immediate release of President Bazoum and the reinstatement of the democratically-elected government.
The US also welcomed the deployment of a special representative from ECOWAS to Niger and urged all parties involved to work towards a peaceful resolution of the current situation. They pledged to remain actively engaged with ECOWAS and West African leaders to preserve Niger’s hard-earned democracy.
In a statement, ECOWAS demanded the release and reinstatement of President Bazoum within a week, warning that they would use force if the junta remained in power. They also announced punitive measures, including the closure of land and air borders with Niger. ECOWAS rejected any notion of Bazoum’s resignation, considering him a hostage.
France and the European Union have pledged their support to ECOWAS and agreed to impose sanctions on the junta. Prior to the coup, both countries had ceased financial support to Niger. Nigeriens have long believed that France continues to treat the country as an imperial state, exploiting its natural resources and imposing economic policies.
Niger has a history of military coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, although political stability had improved in recent years. In 2021, Bazoum was elected as president in the nation’s first democratic transfer of power.
It is essential for Niger to maintain stability and respect the will of its people. Both regional and international support are crucial in ensuring the restoration of constitutional order and the protection of democracy. The actions taken by ECOWAS and the endorsement of the United States demonstrate the collective commitment to upholding democratic principles in Niger.
The situation in Niger necessitates a peaceful and expeditious resolution, with a focus on the immediate release of President Bazoum and the reinstatement of the democratically-elected government. The eyes of the international community will be closely watching as efforts are made to restore constitutional order in Niger and maintain the progress made towards democracy.
