Russia has reiterated calls for a diplomatic solution to the political crisis in Niger, where the West African country’s democratically elected, pro-Western leader was ousted last month in a military coup.
“We support mediation efforts by the African community to help Nigeriens find a solution to the current crisis,” Alexey Zaitsev, a spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said on Aug. 9.
“We believe the speedy restoration of legal order and inclusive national dialogue is the only path to a settlement.”
Mr. Zaitsev’s remarks come one day before a summit of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), an economic and political bloc of 15 West African countries, including Niger.
Summit participants, who will assemble in Abuja, Nigeria, are expected to discuss the prospects for armed intervention in Niger with a view toward reversing the coup against President Mohamed Bazoum.
“No options have been taken off the table,” ECOWAS, which has forcibly intervened in member states in the past, said in a statement.
The summit will likely adopt “far-reaching decisions.”
Mr. Zaitsev said armed intervention is “unlikely to help achieve lasting peace in Niger or stabilize the situation in the region in general.”
Supporters of Niger's coup leaders take part in a rally at a stadium in Niamey, Niger, on Aug. 6, 2023. Mahamadou Hamidou/Reuters
On July 26, Mr. Bazoum was ousted by a group of military officers, who suspended the constitution and imposed a nationwide curfew. Two days later, Abdourahmane Tiani, an army general, was declared the country’s new head of state by the coup leaders.
Mr. Bazoum has since been confined to his residence in Niamey, Niger’s capital, but is reportedly able to speak to foreign officials by phone.
From the outset, Western powers, along with the U.N. and ECOWAS, condemned Mr. Bazoum’s ouster and demanded his immediate reinstatement.
On July 30, ECOWAS leaders set a one-week deadline for the restoration of “constitutional order” in Niger. That deadline expired on Aug. 7 without the demand being met.
Notably, Mali and Burkina Faso—both community members—have expressed support for the coup. Both countries have stated that they would consider any armed intervention in Niger as an attack on themselves.
“We will not accept military intervention in Niger,” a spokesman for Mali’s military government said in recent remarks. “Our survival depends on it.”
Mali and Burkina Faso have both previously accused ECOWAS of serving a Western agenda.
A soldier of the French Special and Intervention Unit of the National Gendarmerie stands next to a Caiman Helicopter at the military base in Ouallam, Niger, on July 15, 2022, as part of an official visit of French ministers of foreign Affairs and armed forces to Niger. Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images
Last week, ECOWAS sent a delegation to Niger for a face-to-face meeting with Mr. Tiani. However, the latter refused to meet with envoys.
By contrast, Mr. Tiani welcomed a joint delegation from Mali and Burkina Faso on Aug. 7.
On the same day, Victoria Nuland, acting U.S. deputy secretary of state, visited Niamey, where she held talks with officials from the country’s new military leadership.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Ms. Nuland described the talks as “difficult.”
“These conversations were extremely frank and, at times, quite difficult, because we’re pushing for a negotiated solution,” she said.
“It was not easy to get traction there.”
During her visit, Ms. Nuland requested meetings with both Mr. Tiani and the ousted president. Both requests were denied.
On Aug. 8, a joint U.N.–African Union delegation was denied access to Niger after the country’s new leaders said the delegation’s safety couldn’t be ensured.
In a statement, they also denounced what they described as a “climate of threatened aggression against Niger.”
Supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, on July 27, 2023. The Canadian Press/AP-Sam Mednick
Under Mr. Bazoum, landlocked Niger had been a key U.S. ally in the region and a recipient of U.S. military and financial assistance.
A partner in Washington’s long-standing fight against “Islamist insurgents,” Niger continues to host U.S., French, German, and Italian troops.
But Western officials now voice concern that the abrupt change of power could lead to greater Russian influence—in both Niger and the West African region in general.
They point to a 2021 military coup in Mali, shortly after which French troops and U.N. peacekeepers were expelled from the country.
The resulting vacuum was eventually filled by Russia’s Wagner Group, a private military company with close ties to the Kremlin.
Speaking to the BBC on Aug. 8, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia might exploit the current crisis in Niger to bolster its regional position.
“What happened ... in Niger was not instigated by Russia or by Wagner, but ... they tried to take advantage of it,” he said.
Mr. Blinken went on to raise the possibility of a “repeat of what’s happened in other countries.”
A French soldier involved in the regional anti-insurgent Operation Barkhane stands guard next to a Reaper drone at the French military airbase in Niamey, Niger, on March 14, 2016. Pascal Guyot/AFP via Getty Images
In this regard, observers have noted the presence of Russian Federation flags at recent pro-coup demonstrations in Niger.
On July 18, Cameron Hudson, a former U.S. intelligence analyst, warned U.S. lawmakers that Moscow is waging a successful charm offensive in Africa.
“Russia is succeeding in its efforts to make new friends, acquire greater influence, and undermine Western interests in Africa,” Hudson, who’s now affiliated with the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, told the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
On Aug. 9, Mr. Zaitsev dismissed claims emanating from Ukraine that Russia was somehow involved in Niger’s coup.
“This is just empty talk,” he said. “Even Western partners, who often criticize Russia without reason, have not said anything like this.”
Notably, Niger is a leading producer of uranium, further enhancing its strategic importance to the United States, Europe, Russia, and China.
On the evening of Aug. 9, Niger’s new army-backed government accused French aircraft of violating its airspace in an effort to destabilize the country.
The Epoch Times couldn’t independently verify the assertion.
Reuters contributed to this report.
