Tensions rise as West African leaders rush to protect Niger after coup

Four African countries, Burkina Faso, Mali, Guinea and Algeria, have backed the ongoing military coup in neighbouring Niger.

Presidents Ibrahim Traore, Assimi Goïta and Mamady Doumbouya, and  Abdelmadjid Tebboune, respectively, have warned against attempts to interfere in Niger’s coup against deposed leader Mohamed Bazoum.

Bazoum was ousted in a military coup last week and is currently under house arrest in his official residence.

Bazoum has been replaced by his former head of security detail, Abdourahmane Tchiani.

Burkina Faso and Mali 

Presidents Traore and Goïta, in a joint statement, said interfering in Niger’s coup would be tantamount to “an act of war” against themselves and Niger.  

Mali and Burkina Faso say they support Niger’s decision to “assume its full sovereignty” and would not entertain the idea of sanctions because trade boycotts would jeopardise African Unity. 

France, which colonised Niger until 1960, has maintained a military presence in the country, and has since halted all aid to Niger following the coup, with the US threatening to follow suit.

Niger hit back by suspending all exports of gold and uranium to the country, effectively compromising France’s nuclear energy production.

Guinea and Alergia support Niger military

Guinea’s President Doumbouya and Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune have also thrown their weight behind Niger’s coup. 

Doumbouya’s office on Monday agreed with their Mali and Burkina Faso counterparts about sanctions affecting their countries negatively.

Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali all experienced their own coups last year.