By John Ikani
The coup in Niger has succeeded, with soldiers announcing on national TV that they have dissolved the constitution and closed all West African borders.
This makes Niger the sixth country in the West African sub-region to experience a coup since August 2020.
The coup was led by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, who said in a statement broadcast on national television that “the defence and security forces … have decided to put an end to the regime you are familiar with.”
The coup has been met with widespread condemnation from world leaders, including Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who said it will not be tolerated.
The United States, France, the United Nations, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the African Union have also raised their voices in denunciation, calling for a swift return to the status quo.
Citizens of Niger themselves have taken to the streets in protest against the coup, demonstrating their disapproval of the upheaval and its impact on their nation.
In an attempt to mediate the crisis, ECOWAS, spearheaded by Mr Tinubu, has dispatched the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, to Niger, with hopes of finding a peaceful resolution.
Prior to his mission, President Talon had a brief meeting with Mr Tinubu in Abuja, underscoring the urgency of the situation and the need for regional cooperation.
As of the time of this report, it remains uncertain whether President Talon has engaged with the coup leaders or ousted President Mohammed Bazoum.
