The recent coup in the Niger, though regional in nature, has international ramifications due to the vast natural resources contained within the borders of the enclosed African nation, especially uranium.
The Niger, part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), despite having enormous riches and resources remain one of the impoverish countries in the world with half of its population living under the poverty line.
The coup occurred on July 26th when Presidential Guards detained President Mohammad Bazoum.
The event had been met by regional and international condemnation with ECOWAS warning heads of the coup last Sunday that “force” would be used if the country did not return to constitutional government system.
While most countries called for the release of President Bazoum, some members of the international community including Russia seem to “in-directly” support the coup with Moscow expressing refusal to any military intervention in the Niger.
In this regard, KUNA had interviewed several experts to reflect on the recent situation.
Political analyst and writer George Alam indicated that the conflict might push for a military intervention by the members of ECOWAS against the coup leaders.
Those behind the coup could also face economic and financial pressure to back down, he added, noting that 60 percent of the Niger’s state budget was dependent on foreign assistance namely from the US and France.
Alam indicated that a counter coup might occur by some elements of the military, which are against the current occurrences.
The analyst also revealed that international conflicts such as the Russian war on the Ukraine had an impact on the Niger, a uranium rich country, with Moscow having sided with the leaders of the coup, while Washington called for the immediate release of President Bazoum.
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) is keen on resolving the situation as fast as possible due to fears of a huge flow of illegal migrants heading towards Europe and other factors, which might affect European interests in the Niger and Africa.
Speaking on his part, Nasser Zouheir — Foreign Policy and Middle East Affairs Officer at the European Organization for Economic and Diplomatic Policy — said that military intervention in the Niger might occur if all efforts fail to reach a settlement.
He said that France and the US were in a predicament because both countries view the coup in Niger and elsewhere in Africa as a threat to western interests as Russian and Chinese influence grow in the content.
France, in particular, imports Uranium from the Niger, which covered around 35 percent of its needs to produce 70 percent of electricity in the country via its nuclear plants.
The west also view the Russian state-funded private military Wanger Group, which operates in Africa, as a threat.
China, on the other hand, also was against any intervention by France or other allies in Niger, saying that they would stand with Russia at the UNSC concerning the situation in the Niger, Zouheir added.
Sharing somewhat similar views, political analyst Mohammad Ibrahim affirmed that France were heavily impacted by the coup in the Niger, which might repeat the scenario in Mali and Burkina Faso after turmoil in both countries lead French troops to withdraw.
It seems that Russia had a hand in the coup as leaders to the movement lifted Russian flags during their act; however, it looks like China had a more prevalent role in the issue to face the French influence in the country, said Ibrahim.
He pointed out that both the US and France were against the coup with both view military intervention in a different way. Washington does not want further escalation in Africa, while Paris called for the immediate return of legitimate authorities in the Niger knowing that the presence of any French troops require a huge increase in personnel to achieve such goal.
Source: Kuwait News Agency