Month: August 2023

The niger coup: a pivotal moment for west africa and global diplomacy

Ousmane Tandja

The military takeover orchestrated by General Tiani, which led to the ousting of President Bazoum in Niger on July 26, marks the latest in a series of such events across the Sahel. Since 2020, the Sahel region has witnessed six coups; Niger’s adds a seventh to this concerning tally. The reactions from both regional and international stakeholders have been unprecedented in their intensity, yet simultaneously more fractured and uncertain than in prior instances. This particular coup raises profound international concerns and potentially graver risks than its predecessors. Indeed, we may…

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Béninese lawmakers question military option in Niger crisis

Ousmane Tandja

Following the military coup d’état that unfolded in Niger on July 26, 2023, international reactions were swift and pronounced. Major bodies such as ECOWAS, the AU, and prominent nations including the USA, France, and Russia, quickly articulated their positions. Within Bénin, the pronouncements from President Patrice Talon and the indications of a potential armed intervention have not been universally welcomed. Reports from Western media suggest Bénin might commit troops alongside ECOWAS to confront the military junta. Many stakeholders, notably the Catholic Church and various political figures, have openly voiced their…

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Bénin’s Démocrates party advocates for diplomatic resolution in Niger crisis

Aïcha Abdou

The escalating political turmoil in Niger, coupled with the looming prospect of military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against the Nigerien putschists, has deeply troubled Bénin’s opposition party, “Les Démocrates”. In a press release issued on Saturday, August 5, 2023, Eric Houndété, the party’s president, asserted that the military coup in Niger not only propels this neighboring nation into a precarious situation but also “attracts opportunistic individuals accustomed to exploiting such crises.” “Les Démocrates” unequivocally “condemns any seizure of power by force, irrespective of its…

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