Niger’s Junta Rejects a Diplomatic Visit by Regional and UN Officials Over ‘Atmosphere of Menace’ by Sam Mednick
August 8, 2023
Introduction:
NIAMEY, Niger (AP via Courthouse News) — Niger's military junta has refused the latest diplomatic attempt to reinstall the ousted president, rejecting a proposed visit by representatives of the West African regional bloc, the African Union and United Nations on Tuesday, according to a letter seen by The Associated Press.
The letter cited “evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace" against Niger, two weeks after mutinous soldiers overthrew the country’s democratically elected leader. The regional bloc known as ECOWAS had threatened to use military force if the junta didn't reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday, a deadline that was ignored.
On Monday, acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with the coup leaders and said they refused to allow her to meet with Bazoum, whom she described as under “virtual house arrest.” She described the mutinous officers as unreceptive to her appeals to start negotiations and restore constitutional rule.
“These conversations were extremely frank and at times quite difficult because, again, we are pushing for a negotiated solution. It was not easy to get traction there. They are quite firm in their view of how they want to proceed,” Nuland told reporters on a call from Niamey.
ECOWAS is expected to meet again Thursday in Abuja, the capital of neighboring Nigeria, to discuss the situation.
Coup in Niger - Analysis by James Durso
August 10, 2023
Introduction:
(Eurasia Review) Almost twenty years to the day after Ambassador Joseph Wilson wrote his op-ed “What I Didn’t Find in Africa” about his visit to Niger to confirm if the country was supplying Saddam Hussein with uranium yellowcake, the U.S. found itself again focused on the African country.
On 26 July, Niger’s president, Mohamed Bazoum, was ousted by his presidential guard, and the guard commander and coup leader, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, was named president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland. It was the seventh coup in the region since 2020, not including a previous attempt in Niger in 2021 that was put down by the same presidential guard.
The coup was condemned by the U.S., France, the UK, the United Nations, the European Union, the African Union, numerous African governments, and ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States.
The ECOWAS deadline to reinstate President Bazoum was ignored by the generals, and Niger’s new leaders closed the country’s airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing to attack. ECOWAS leaders will now meet in Nigeria on Thursday to discuss next steps.
Last week, the ECOWAS military leaders prepared a plan to reinstate President Bazoum, which will probably be discussed at the Thursday meeting. However, the Nigerian Senate has rejected military intervention in Niger and without Nigeria, which has a 1,600 kilometer border and the largest military in the region, nothing will happen.
Vox posted an article of the Niger coup. It is largely duplicative of points already made in this thread, but I will post a link here as some new information may be interwoven with what has already been presented. At the very least, it corroborates what others have written. Always important in understanding a country so foreign to the experience of most of us.
Leader of Militia From Central African Republic Denies War Crimes Charges by Molly Quell
August 22, 2023
Introduction:
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (Courthouse News) — A former militia leader from the Central African Republic told the International Criminal Court on Tuesday he had nothing to do with attacks against Muslims during his country's ongoing civil war.
Maxime Jeoffroy Eli Mokom Gawaka faces 20 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity atrocities committed against civilians, including murder, rape, pillaging and torture, that are said to have occurred between December 2013 and April 2014.
"I absolutely deny having a part in any plan that involved the crimes that have been charged," the 44-year-old told the court, claiming he was stuck in the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo until February 2014.
Sectarian violence in the Central African Republic broke out in late 2012 after Muslim militia groups known as the Seleka ousted President François Bozizé and took control of the capital. Mokom is accused of playing a pivotal role in the anti-Balaka, which formed in response.
Before the case at The Hague can move forward, however, the International Criminal Court is holding a series of hearings over the next three days to determine if there is sufficient evidence to move forward. Just the first step in the trial process, these hearings are known as confirmation of charges.
Analysts Indicate that While Charismatic Leader is Gone, Wagner Will Survive in Africa by Ope Adetayo
August 26, 2023
Introduction:
(Al Jazeera) Yevgeny Prigozhin, head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, just left Mali where he filmed a video pledging to make “Africa even more free” before he presumably perished in a plane crash in his home country.
His apparent death – it has yet to be officially confirmed – has sparked concerns for some client governments in Africa who rely on his unique services.
Patronage of Prigozhin’s private military force has been on the rise in recent years since some African governments started turning towards Russia as an alternative international partner in their fight against rising insecurity from various armed groups.
President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central Africa Republic (CAR) was the first to turn to the feared militia in 2018, but the shifting sands of democratic governments that have seen a rise in military takeovers in the Sahel region opened the door widely for Wagner.
Across the Sahel and central Africa, armed groups have continued to expand rapidly, their rise coinciding with protests against former colonial power France, which still wields enormous influence across the region.
Another Coup, Another Defeat for France in Africa by Cain Burdeau
August 30, 2023
Introduction:
(Courthouse News) — A military coup on Wednesday in the oil-rich West African nation of Gabon became the latest disaster for France's long-standing goal to keep a major presence in its former African colonies.
The coup in Gabon, a former French colony ruled for the past 55 years by a corrupt family dynasty and close ally of France, follows a series of major geopolitical setbacks for Paris in Africa.
The most serious attack on France's African ambitions took place just over a month ago when the democratically elected government of Niger was ousted in a military coup. It was the fourth coup in a Francophone West African nation since 2020.
The coup in Gabon took place early Wednesday morning when the country's mutinous military announced it had taken over the government. The news prompted large crowds of cheering Gabonese to take to the streets in the capital Libreville.
“France condemns the military coup that is underway in Gabon and is closely monitoring developments in the country, and France reaffirms its wish that the outcome of the election, once known, be respected,” French government spokesman Olivier Veran said.
