Nigerien Junta to Prosecute Ousted President in Latest Escalation of Tension

The military junta in Niger plans on prosecuting the country’s ousted president for “high treason” Monday. It is the latest escalation in a region where coup d’états have increased in recent years. If convicted, Bazoum could face the death penalty.

Ever since members of his presidential guard overthrew him, Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum has been placed under house arrest at the presidential residence in Niamey. The self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CLSP) cited “deterioration of the security situation” and “poor economic and social governance” as reasons for Bazoum’s removal. The junta proclaimed Abdourahmane Tchiani as Niger’s de-facto leader. “Our action is motivated by the sole desire to preserve our beloved homeland,” Tchiani said.

Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani addresses the nation on Télé Sahel on Friday, July 28, 2023, in Niamey, Niger. Tchiani has been named the de-facto leader of the country. “Our action is motivated by the sole desire to preserve our beloved homeland,” Tchiani said. President Mohamed Bazoum is under house arrest and is now the target of a possible prosecution, with junta leaders saying he committed “high treason.” (ORTN via BBC)

ECOWAS, the 15-member West African political and economic bloc, has pressured the military junta to reinstate Bazoum to power. “What a calamity,” Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is also the chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said. “It is an insult to every one of us and we must take a very strong action.” The bloc gave the de facto Nigerien authorities a week-long ultimatum to restore Bazoum. The ultimatum passed with no change.

In the latest ECOWAS extraordinary summit, the bloc activated a standby force and ordered its deployment to “restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.” It is unclear when this force will be deployed. “No option is taken off the table, including the use of force as the last resort,” Tinubu said. “If we don’t do it, no one else will do it for us.” It also reiterated its plan to continue sanctions and border restrictions on the country.

Nigerian President and ECOWAS Chairperson Bola Ahmed Tinubu attends the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit on Sunday, July 30, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria. The 15-member ECOWAS regional bloc denounced the Nigerien junta’s overthrow of Bazoum and called for his immediate reinstatement. “It is time for action and we should walk our talks,” Tinubu said. (Kola Sulaimon/AFP via Getty Images)

The United Nations is also watching the situation closely. In several press briefings, the U.N. reiterated its backing of Bazoum and called for his release and reinstatement. “Certainly we’re against any threats to harm the elected president of the country and we would oppose that,” Farhan Haq, deputy spokesperson for the secretary-general, said. “Our basic concern is with the effort to overthrow the elected government; we want a restoration of the government as soon as possible.” Linda Thomas-Greenfield, president of the Security Council and permanent representative of the United States to the U.N., sent the same message. “We still recognize President Bazoum as the elected—democratically elected—president of Niger.”

International attention is growing as well. The United States has a rooted interest in Niger; 1,000 troops are in the country cooperating with local forces to fight Islamic extremist groups such as JNIM and ISGS. “In terms of our force posture, nothing has changed,” Sabrina Singh, deputy Pentagon press secretary, said. “We have paused, on an interim basis, some security co-operation efforts and we’re not conducting military training right now as things remain pretty fluid within Niger.”

Mohamed Toumba, one of the leading figures of the coup d’etat in Niger, speaks to supporters of the military junta in Niamey, Niger, on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. The Nigerien junta ignored an ultimatum given by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ECOWAS has called for the release and reinstatement of President Mohamed Bazoum, saying that the bloc would explore all paths including the use of force. (Photo by Sam Mednick/AP Photo)

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has talked with President Bazoum on several occasions as well as with African leaders. The Department of State issued an order asking “non-emergency U.S. government personnel and eligible family members” to leave the U.S. Embassy in Niamey, according to Matthew Miller, department spokesperson, in a press statement. The State Department has also paused certain foreign assistance programs.

Russia also seems to be keeping a close watch. Its Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was continuing to “closely monitoring the developments” and that “Russia supports ECOWAS’s mediating efforts aimed at finding ways out of the current crisis.” The Wagner Group disagrees. International media reports allege that Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has praised the junta’s actions and has offered his services in a Telegram statement.

Supporters of the Nigerien junta try to set fire to the French embassy on Sunday, July 30, 2023, in Niamey, Niger. France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs condemned the attack. The ministry declared an evacuation of French and European nationals on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. France has a military presence in the country, with 1,500 personnel on the ground to conduct counterterrorism operations. (Photo by Souleymane Ag Anara/Reuters)

France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs began evacuating French and European nationals on Aug. 1 from Niamey after the French embassy was attacked the day before. Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna met with Nigerien Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, who is part of Bazoum’s government, to discuss the situation. Colonna reaffirmed France’s support for Bazoum. France also has a military presence in the country, with 1,500 troops on the ground to conduct counterterrorism operations. France is Niger's former colonial ruler and the military junta is hoping to utilize anti-French sentiment to gather support.