NIGER COUP: EUROPEANS LOOK FOR AN EXIT...
The late July military coup in Niger prompted a veritable exodus of foreign nationals from the West African state, as various European states scrambled to get their citizens to safety. France, for instance, dispatched a military transport plane to evacuate hundreds of citizens situated in the country. Italy and Spain also announced plans to send flights to repatriate their own citizens. However, the plans proved tricky to execute, because the new Nigerien government closed its airspace for a time amid an uptick in internal violence. (Associated Press, August 1, 2023)
...AS WASHINGTON MULLS PULLING UP STAKES...
Europeans aren't the only ones pulling back from Niger. In the wake of the coup, the United States suspended counterterrorism cooperation with the country, pending a further review of the policies of its newly installed military junta. "As far as security cooperation, those efforts right now are suspended in light of the situation, but certainly we maintain close contact with our Niger military counterparts in the country as the situation continues to unfold," Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon's press secretary, told reporters. However, there are at present no plans for the United States to withdraw the approximately 1,100 troops it has stationed in the country, Ryder said. (The Hill, August 2, 2023)
...WHILE ECOWAS THREATENS CONSEQUENCES...
Niger's coup has also presented ECOWAS, the Economic Community of West African States, with a serious challenge to its legitimacy. Niger's coup represents the fourth in West Africa over the preceding three years, and despite concerted diplomacy the bloc has been ineffective at stabilizing local political systems. In response to Niger's turmoil, ECOWAS initially ordered the mobilization of a "standby force" to compel Niger to restore constitutional order if the country's new rulers did not do it themselves. In all, eleven of the group's 15 members agreed to commit troops to a military deployment, with the aim of restoring the rule of deposed President Mohamed Bazoum. However, the new ruling Nigerien junta have threatened to kill Bazoum if such a force is in fact dispatched – effectively leading to a policy stalemate. (Associated Press, August 18, 2023)
...AND THE AFRICAN UNION SUSPENDS NIAMEY
The African Union (AU), meanwhile, has suspended Niger's membership. The move, which is in keeping with the AU's "coup playbook," which it has followed in the instance of other recent coups in West Africa, was made to encourage the international community to reject the "unconstitutional change of government." The AU's decision, which was taken by the bloc's Executive Council, will remain in force "until the effective restoration of constitutional order" in the country. The decision effectively removes Niger from having any meaningful representation in the bloc. And left to its own devices, the new regime in Niamey is imposing new restrictions on Western nations. In recent days, Niger's military junta revoked authorization for the importation or carrying of weapons by German, Canadian, and Czech nationals "until further notice" – a move that significantly complicates the ability of foreign nations to protect their embassies and personnel in the country. (Associated Press, August 22, 2023)
THE AU LEAVES SOMALIA, CREATING SECURITY CHALLENGES
The African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, also known as ATMIS, is moving ahead with plans to remove 3,000 troops from the country by early Fall as part of its long-term rebuilding efforts for Mogadishu. The troop withdrawal represents the second phase of ATMIS' plan to hand security back over to Somali forces and allow "Somalia's state-building to fill the gap." However, the AU's exit may create more security challenges for neighboring Keyna, which suffers from Islamist violence and is grappling with the threat posed by the al-Qaeda-affiliated al-Shabaab group. The planned removal of security forces has sparked concerns from Ethiopia and Djibouti as well, and both countries are seeking to maintain a military presence in Somalia despite ATMIS' pullback. (The East African, August 6, 2023)
UGANDA'S TROUBLING TRAJECTORY
The United Nations has shuttered its human rights office in Uganda, after Kampala failed to renew an agreement with the world body. The development heightens international concerns over the country's human rights situation, which have been fanned by new laws that prescribe the death penalty for some homosexual acts. According to the UN's High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, Uganda is experiencing an "increasingly hostile environment" for human rights defenders, the press, and others. (Associated Press, August 4, 2023)
A WAY OUT OF KENYA'S UNREST?
In the wake of violent protests over the rising cost of living and the results of an acrimonious election, Kenya's government has launched talks with its domestic opposition. As of early August, at least twenty people had been killed in the protests, which are driven in part by opposition demands that Nairobi prove the authenticity of last year's presidential election, which elevated current President William Ruto to power. Previous attempts at a political truce have failed, with Ruto's opponents refusing a power-sharing arrangement. The new talks, taking place outside of Nairobi, have yet to agree on an agenda, but both sides at long last appear ready for dialogue. (Africa News, August 9, 2023)
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