2023 News Review: Nigerien Crisis

On July 26, 2023, Loyalists to Abdourahamane Tchiani performed a coup d’état on the Federal Government of Niger and deposed the former president, Mohamed Bazoum, instating a military junta. Four days later on July 30, the Economic Community of West African States’ ultimatum demanded the military junta to, “Restore democracy,” by reinstating Bazoum or face military action; Tchiani chose the latter. The conflict lasted until December 22, 2023, and solidified Niger’s new government which received support from other military juntas in the region, namely Mali and Burkina Faso, even forming the Alliance of Sahel States, a mutual defense pact. Directly on ECOWAS’ border and with opposing ideologies, the ASS threatens its future as a stable faction in West Africa. With all three member states of the ASS undergoing coups and establishing military juntas, they are staunchly anti-western and anti-neocolonialist. On the other hand, ECOWAS maintains good relations with the West even letting nations such as France possess bases in the region. Niger’s coup essentially formed a pro and anti-western bloc in West Africa. The ASS believes Franec’s policies and influence on their former colonies are undemocratic and only serve to the detriment of the native populations, going as far as expelling French troops and banning French bases