Johannesburg, South Africa— The United States has ceased security cooperation with military forces in Niger, leading to the evacuation of Americans from the country. However, U.S. officials have refrained from labeling the detainment of Niger’s elected president by his elite guard as a coup.
According to U.S. law, such a designation could result in a complete halt to American security and economic assistance to Niger. The country has become a crucial democratic ally in the volatile Sahel region of northern Africa, where the U.S. conducts significant counterterrorism-focused military operations.
American citizens evacuate on European flight
The Biden administration is closely monitoring the situation in Niger, referring to it as an “attempted power grab”. However, there is no immediate threat to U.S. citizens in Niger, and the U.S. government has not initiated any evacuation operation.
Nevertheless, a group of Americans managed to board an evacuation flight to Italy, joining European nationals who were hastily leaving Niger.
The first of three French planes dispatched to evacuate European nationals arrived back in Paris on Tuesday night, carrying over 250 people. An Italian plane, carrying Europeans and 21 American citizens, predominantly from a Texas Christian group, landed in Rome early Wednesday morning.
The evacuation efforts escalated after demonstrators attacked the French embassy in Niger on Sunday.
Neighboring countries warn coup leader, U.S. supports detained president
Senior defense officials from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which includes Niger, are scheduled to meet in Abuja, Nigeria, on Wednesday to address what most of the international community regards as a coup in Niger.
The bloc has issued a warning to the military commander responsible for the coup, who declared himself as Niger’s new ruler on Friday, giving him until August 6 to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum. ECOWAS has threatened to use force if Bazoum, who has been under house arrest for a week, is not allowed to resume his presidential duties.
On Sunday, ECOWAS announced strict sanctions against the coup leaders, as well as trade and financial restrictions between Niger and its 14 other member states.
The military junta currently governing Niger has vowed to defend against any acts of aggression from ECOWAS. Additionally, the position of the regional bloc is not entirely unified, as the rebellious generals receive support from the military regimes in Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which are also ECOWAS members. These countries have stated that an attack on Niger would be considered a declaration of war against them as well.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with President Bazoum on Tuesday and conveyed unwavering support for the Nigerien president, the country’s democracy, and its people, according to the State Department.
Sources indicate that neither the U.S. nor the French military plans to evacuate their personnel at this time. The U.S. has approximately 1,000 troops deployed in Niger, while France, its former colonial power, has around 1,500 deployed. The U.S. operates from two jointly-run military bases in Niger.
A U.S. official informed CBS News that the challenge to Niger’s elected leader came unexpectedly, raising concerns in a region plagued by extremism that has the potential to become a global security threat.
An African region plagued by coups and extremism
The overthrowing of Niger’s government on July 26 was the most recent coup in a volatile and insurgency-ridden region. West and Central Africa have experienced nine coups in the past three years, including the ones that brought the current regimes to power in Mali and Burkina Faso.
Niger alone has endured four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960. President Bazoum assumed office peacefully in 2021 following his election.
Despite his detention on July 26, President Bazoum has been in contact with foreign leaders and was recently photographed with General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, the leader of Chad. General Deby Itno traveled to Niger’s capital, Niamey, at the request of ECOWAS.
Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guard, declared himself as Niger’s new leader during a national television address on Friday. He assumed the title of “President of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland” and suspended Niger’s constitution.
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