By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The African Union (AU) has announced an indefinite suspension on Niger following a coup in the country, a sanction that would persist until constitutional order is restored.
The bloc also said it would assess the implications of any armed intervention in the troubled Sahel nation where the military on June 26 forcefully deposed a democratically elected government.
The Peace and Security Council “requests the AU Commission to undertake an assessment of the economic, social and security implications of deploying a standby force in Niger and report back to Council,” the bloc said, following strong differences on the matter.
In response to the coup by the presidential guards unit of the military in Niger, regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) threaten to use force to reinstate the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.
ECOWAS had also agreed to activate a “standby force” as a last resort to restore democracy in landlocked Niger.
The AU last week held a meeting on the crisis against a backdrop of divergent views within the bloc over any military intervention.
Defence chiefs of ECOWAS had also indicated readiness to invade Niger to reinstate Bazoum if negotiations fail.
The junta leader, General Abdourahamane Tchiani has given three-year timeline to handover power to civil authorities, a proposal rejected by ECOWAS.
Niger is the fourth nation in West Africa since 2020 to suffer a coup, following Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
The juntas in Burkina Faso and Mali have said that any military intervention in their neighbour would be considered a “declaration of war” against their countries.
After his forceful removal from office, Bazoum and his family has remained in detention at the presidential palace with growing international concern over his conditions in detention.
