Almost a month after the coup
African Union temporarily excludes Niger
08/22/2023 2:52 p.m
The military coup in Niger was almost a month ago. Now the African Union is suspending the country until constitutional order is restored. The consequences of setting up an intervention force should also be examined.
Barely a month after the military coup in Niger, the African Union (AU) suspended the West African country’s membership. The decision is valid until constitutional order is restored in the country of around 25 million people, the AU said, referring to a meeting of the AU Security Council last week.
The AU also supports the efforts of the West African community of states ECOWAS to restore constitutional order in Niger, the statement said. Among other things, ECOWAS had decided to activate a standby force for a possible military intervention. The AU now wants to examine the possible economic, social and security policy consequences of setting up a stand-by force. At the weekend, however, there was initially movement towards a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
The AU also suspended West African countries’ membership after military coups in Burkina Faso and Mali. On July 26, Niger’s Presidential Guard under General Abdourahamane Tchiani arrested the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum in his residence. The junta then proclaimed “the end of the regime” and dissolved all constitutional institutions. Tchiani took power.