NIGER MILITARY JUNTA MAKING APPOINTMENTS AND REJECTING NEGOTIATION TALKS
After two weeks, Niger's military junta is making cabinet nominations and rejecting discussions.
As Niger's military junta enters its second week in power, its leaders are appointing a government and rejecting calls for negotiations in what analysts describe as an attempt to entrench their power and demonstrate that they are serious about governing the West African country in the face of an escalating regional crisis.
As Niger's military junta enters its second week in power, its leaders are appointing a government and rejecting calls for negotiations in what analysts describe as an attempt to entrench their power and demonstrate that they are serious about governing the West African country in the face of an escalating regional crisis.
The junta has appointed a new prime minister and a raft of new cabinet members. They also refused to accept meditation teams from the United Nations, the African Union, and the West African regional bloc ECOWAS, citing "evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace," according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
If the junta is not reinstated, ECOWAS has threatened to employ military intervention.
The junta announced on Monday that civilian economist Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine would be prime minister. Zeine is a former economy and finance minister who left office after his government was deposed in a prior military coup in 2010, and then worked at the African Development Bank.
Most analysts and diplomats, however, believe that rationale is invalid and that the takeover was the consequence of a power struggle between the president and the chief of his presidential guard, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who now claims to be in charge of the country.
The coup comes as a shock to many Western governments, who considered Niger as one of the few democratic allies in the region with whom they could collaborate to combat the terrorist threat. Niger partners have treatened cutting them off million of dollars if they do not return to constitutionalism.
However, diplomatic attempts have so far yielded little as the junta tightens its hold on power.
Niamey, Niger's capital, appeared more tense on Tuesday, with security officers scrutinizing vehicles. The junta closed its airspace on Monday and temporarily banned authorization for diplomatic flights from friendly and partner countries on Tuesday, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland met with the coup leaders earlier this week, but they refused to let her speak with Bazoum, who has been incarcerated since the coup. She described the mutinous officers as unresponsive to her pleas to begin dialogue and restore constitutional order.
The United States has approximately 1,100 military personnel in the country and regards Niger as a strategic and economic partner.
Nu land made greater progress than the other delegates. An earlier ECOWAS group was barred from leaving the airport.
It is unclear what coordination exists between the various mediation efforts. Some analysts are concerned that if efforts are not coordinated, ECOWAS would be undermined.
"I think the US would come to a modus vivendi with this junta, if the junta proved particularly amenable to US interests, but that doesn't seem to be on the table right now," said Alexander Thurston, assistant professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati.
Following its refusal to visit Niger on Tuesday, ECOWAS said it is working to find a peaceful solution to the conflict and will continue to "deploy all necessary measures to ensure this." And the ECOWAS is meeting again on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria's capital city.
However, many believe that the longer it takes to find a solution, the more time the junta will have to dig in and the less impetus there would be to depose them. Regional countries are divided on how to proceed as well.
Military governments in neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have backed with the junta, warning that interference in Niger would be "equivalent to a declaration of war" against them. In a joint letter to the United Nations on Tuesday, the two countries urged the agency to "prevent, by all means at its disposal, armed action against a sovereign state."
This week, Mali and Burkina Faso sent delegations to Niamey to explore military possibilities. Officials from both parties testified the talk went well.
While the situation continues, Niger's 25 million people endure the brunt of it. It is one of the world's poorest countries. Many Nigerians live hand to mouth and say they are too preoccupied with feeding their families to pay attention to the rising issue.
He warned that "If things continue as they are, the situation will become very difficult.
.jpeg)
Comments
Post a Comment