A Coup in Niger? A Déjà vu Perhaps?

In a story compiled by The Canadian Press, it’s been reported that Niger’s president said earlier today that certain factions of the presidential guard tried to “move against him,” and that the army will respond with force if they don’t back down.
The nation’s president, Mohamed Bazoum, reportedly tweeted that some within the nation’s foremost element entrusted with his safety engaged in an “anti-Republican demonstration” and were eventually unsuccessful in obtaining the support of other security forces and the military to oust him.
It is not clear exactly as to what ignited the tensions, but streets surrounding the presidential residence in Niamey, the capital, were cordoned off–as were several ministerial offices–for precautionary measures.
An unofficial spokesperson close to the source of tension told the Associated Press that the presidential guard surrounded Bazoum and his wife while they were inside their residence, and that negotiations had begun.
Bazoum was elected democratically in 2021, marking the nation’s first-ever peaceful transfer of power. Niger has suffered no fewer than four coups since its independence from France almost 65 years ago. The latest occurred just days before Bazoum was sworn into office.
Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State threaten his tenure, and a deteriorating political and security situation affect the western part of the country, in particular. Niger also has the world’s highest birth rate.
Though the situation remained relatively calm as of early afternoon Wednesday, at least a dozen reinforcements were dispatched from the national guard to a primary radio station. In addition, various international security forces in operation were placed on lockdown.
Rida Lyammouri, senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, a Morocco-based think tank, provides an interesting analysis of the situation. “The repeated coups in the Sahel signal the beginning of a new era. An era of militaries being in control, and the end of what was a hopeful democracy. As we are seeing in Burkina Faso and Mali, coups did not really address security issues, which was the justification of these coups in the first place.”
Bazoum received calls from leaders of several African sister nations who wanted to express support, namely president of Côte d’Ivoire Alassane Ouattara. President Macron also jumped at the opportunity and phoned Bazoum to show what little influence France still got on the African landscape.