West African leaders have expressed their readiness to use force if necessary to restore democracy in Niger, amidst a massive rally in support of the coup leaders outside the French Embassy in the country. On Sunday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed wide-ranging economic and diplomatic sanctions on Niger, giving the military leaders one week to reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
Earlier, thousands of people gathered outside the French Embassy in Niger's capital, Niamey, to show their support for the junta. According to videos and eyewitnesses, a door was set on fire during the demonstration. In response, France, Niger's former colonial power, issued a statement warning that it would retaliate if any of its citizens were attacked.
ECOWAS, a coalition of 15 member states, has also taken strong action against Niger. The bloc has closed air and land borders with the country, frozen its assets at the regional central bank, and frozen state assets in commercial banks, among other measures. However, the junta has warned ECOWAS against any military intervention to reinstate President Bazoum.
The leader of the coup, General Abdourahamane Tiani, declared himself the new leader of the country last Friday after detaining President Bazoum. This has sparked international condemnation, with the European Union and France announcing the suspension of aid to Niger, one of the world's poorest countries.
Niger has been a key ally to the EU and the US in the fight against jihadists in the region, receiving nearly $2 billion in annual development aid. France, which maintains 1,500 troops in Niger, suspended aid of €120 million ($132 million) last year. The EU has committed €503 million in development aid from 2021-2024 but has now announced the immediate cessation of budget support and security cooperation.
The US has also raised concerns, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken stating that US security and development assistance to Niger is now "in jeopardy." Niger has been seen as a reliable partner for the West in the politically and economically unstable Sahel region of Africa. France and the US have military bases in the country to combat jihadist groups, while the EU sees Niger as an important ally in addressing illegal immigration from Africa.
The coup in Niger has created a belt of military-run countries stretching from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. Many of these countries have closer ties with Russia than with the West. Russian influence in the region has grown in recent years, partly through the activities of the Wagner Group. Protesters in Niger were seen carrying flags with vertical blue-white-red lines resembling the Russian flag, denouncing France, the US, and the African Union while calling for Russian support.
In an effort to resolve the crisis, Chad's military ruler and Interim President Mahamat Deby Itno was reported to be in Niamey on Sunday.