Niger's military government is bracing for a response from the West African regional bloc after ignoring a deadline to restore the ousted president or face the threat of military intervention.
According to the US CNN channel on August 7, Niger's armed forces have sent reinforcements to the capital to prepare for a potential military intervention, just hours after the country's military government refused to comply with the deadline for restoring power to President Mohamed Bazoum set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), or face military intervention.
CNN quoted a source in the Niger military as saying that a convoy of about 40 vehicles arrived at dusk on August 6, carrying soldiers from different parts of the country to calm the anxious public and prepare for a potential conflict.
Earlier the same day, the Niger military government announced: “Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming increasingly present through preparations by neighboring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from August 6 to all aircraft until further notice.”
Niger has been in political turmoil since late last month, when President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted by his presidential guard in a coup. ECOWAS responded days later by imposing sanctions and giving Niger's new military government an ultimatum: resign within a week or face military intervention.
That deadline came and went on August 6 without any change in the political situation. President Bazoum remains deposed and his whereabouts remain unknown to the public.
What comes next in Niger is unclear. ECOWAS leaders have said their priority is to find a diplomatic solution to the crisis but have maintained that they are prepared to use force as a last resort to bring Niger's elected government back to power.
The uncertainty has rattled residents in the capital, Niamey. Some have rushed to supermarkets to buy essentials like rice and cooking oil in bulk, while others have sought to leave the country. Staff at local bus companies said most routes out of the capital were full.
Meanwhile, pro-military protesters gathered at a 30,000-seat stadium in Niamey to show their support and protest against ECOWAS sanctions.
Despite its wealth of resources, Niger remains one of the poorest countries in the world. Many Nigeriens, especially the younger generation, still see France as a power responsible for their country's widespread poverty. Supporters of the new military government even saw the coup as an opportunity for Niger to distance itself from French influence diplomatically.
The future of the government in Niger is of particular importance to Niger’s neighbors and Western partners. The United States and France have hundreds of troops stationed, many of them supporting counterterrorism missions, in a region plagued by political turmoil, terrorism and Islamist insurgencies.
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