International Desk: Until constitutional order returns to Niger, the country will not be able to participate in any institution or activity of the African Union. Niger has been expelled by the African Union (AU) after the junta seized power by ousting the president in a coup d’état. News of Reuters. From now until constitutional order is restored in Niger, the country will not be able to participate in any of the bloc’s institutions or activities.
The African Union has even asked member states to avoid any activity that could legitimize the junta. The presidential guard of the country seized the power of Niger through a coup d’état on July 26. Later the army supported the coup.
The junta seized power by imprisoning President Mohamed Bazom and declaring the elected government dissolved. Regional alliance ECOWAS strongly condemned the coup and issued an ultimatum to free the imprisoned president and return power to him. Or even threaten military intervention. ECOWAS leaders met last Thursday to discuss steps to resolve the crisis if Niger’s military leadership ignored the ultimatum. In that meeting, regional leaders agreed to deploy a standby force. ECOWAS is still trying to negotiate with Niger’s junta.
However, if these diplomatic efforts fail, they are also ready to send troops to Niger. The African Union, like ECOWAS, has called on Niger’s junta leaders to release President Bazome and step down. The African Union will also assess the deployment of ECOWAS troops in Niger.
Niger is the fourth country to be sanctioned by the African Union for a coup since 2020. The remaining three countries are Burkina Faso, Guyana and Mali.
