Toba Owojaiye reportingÂ
Niger is experiencing heightened tension following the launch of an anti-coup movement by a former rebel leader and political figure. The movement, aimed at countering the military junta that took control in a coup on July 26, represents the first internal opposition to the rule of the army in this strategically important Sahel nation.
Rhissa Ag Boula, in a statement released on Wednesday, introduced the establishment of the Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR). This initiative is dedicated to the reinstatement of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who had been placed under house arrest in the aftermath of the coup. Ag Boula’s statement emphasized the tragic circumstance wherein Niger has fallen victim to a crisis perpetrated by those tasked with safeguarding its stability.
This development comes at a juncture when diplomatic endeavors to reverse the coup have reached an impasse. The junta has rebuffed diplomatic overtures and the support offered by neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which had backed the armed takeover. In a bid to forestall any military intervention in Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso have also appealed to the United Nations.
The coup leaders in Niger further escalated tensions by denying entry to African and UN envoys on Tuesday, thereby refusing pre-summit negotiations. A scheduled summit involving the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will deliberate on potential measures, including the use of force.
Ag Boula’s statement conveyed the CRR’s alignment with ECOWAS and other international actors striving to reinstate constitutional order in Niger, expressing a willingness to contribute constructively to ECOWAS efforts.
While the extent of support for the CRR remains uncertain, concerns are amplified by Ag Boula’s influence among the Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnic group predominantly inhabiting Niger’s northern desert. The Tuaregs wield significant influence over commerce and politics in this region, underscoring their pivotal role in the junta’s control beyond Niamey’s city limits.
The United Nations, Western powers, and democratic member states of ECOWAS, such as Nigeria, are actively advocating for the restoration of civilian governance by the junta. This governance had made notable strides in containing a lethal Islamist insurgency that has inflicted severe devastation upon the Sahel region.