Niger increasingly isolated on the international scene, two and a half months after the coup d’état of July 26, during which President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by the military. France, United States, United Nations… The country, still under sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States, has recently distanced itself from several partners. Niamey is now turning to new allies.
Latest event: the expulsion of the United Nations coordinator in Niger. The military in power denounce “ sneaky maneuvers ” by the UN Secretary General, “ under the instigation of France ”, to harm their country. France, which also began this week to send its soldiers from Niger, as demanded by the CNSP.
On Tuesday, it was the United States that finally declared the events in Niger a coup d’état, resulting in the removal of $500 million in economic aid.
An analyst, a specialist in the Sahel, believes that the new Nigerien power “ reads in the scripts of its Malian and Burkinabe neighbors, who, too, have adopted a tone of firmness towards former allies like France, or United Nations ”.
Niamey has also moved closer to its two western neighbors, also led by the military. The three countries created an Alliance of Sahel States last month. Will Niger also move closer to Russia? “ It’s too early to say ,” replies the same analyst.
The Russian ambassador was recently received in Niamey by several personalities, including General Tiani and the Minister of Defense.
Source: Radio France Internationale
