In Niger, three months after a military coup, rights groups have raised concerns over abuses as the West African country grapples with international sanctions. The military junta commissioning Africa’s longest oil pipeline could allow Niger to sell crude oil on the international market and take part in the global energy market. The resources obtained from the oil pipeline project will be used to develop the country’s economy and ensure sovereignty.
Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine has criticized sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States, the European Union, and the United States following the military coup that ousted the democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. He rejected the imposition of sanctions while humanitarian crises and challenges persist. Since the coup, the number of terrorist attacks in Niger linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda has increased. The military takeover has also led to human rights violations, with authorities cracking down on the media and dissent. Meanwhile, the West African bloc and some Western countries have deeply sidelined the junta.
The junta’s actions are not surprising, according to Freedom Chukwudi Onuoha, coordinator of the security, violence, and conflict research group at the University of Nigeria. Onuoha explained that such actions are integral to the consolidation of power for military rulers. A report by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International also highlighted arbitrary arrests following the coup, including those of ousted government officials. Sanctions against the junta are also said to have a disproportionate impact on civilians in Niger, as concerns grow about a possible military intervention from the West African bloc.
Several individuals have raised concerns about the events in Niger, with Amnesty International researcher Ousmane Diallo suggesting that the international community should unify its voice on how to respond to the situation in Niger. Meanwhile, proponents of the military coup have suggested that the grassroots population supported the new military leaders in their organized political takeover due to issues regarding the exploitation of Niger’s natural resources, including uranium. International Consulting Limited (ICLEG) Chairman Mohamed Zayed has supported the actions of the junta, emphasizing the purported support of the majority of the population for the changes.