BREAKING: Tension In Niger As Ex-rebel Leader Launches Anti-coup Movement (DETAILS)

BREAKING: Tension In Niger As Ex-rebel Leader Launches Anti-coup Movement (DETAILS)

A former rebel leader and politician from Niger has launched a movement opposing the military junta that seized power in a coup on July 26…CONTINUE READING

This marks the first internal resistance to the army rule in the strategically significant Sahel nation.

Rhissa Ag Boula, in a statement on Wednesday, announced the formation of the Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR), which aims to restore ousted President Mohamed Bazoum to power. Bazoum had been under house arrest since the coup.

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The statement from Ag Boula highlighted that Niger has become a victim of a tragedy orchestrated by those entrusted with its protection.

This development comes at a time when diplomatic efforts to reverse the coup have hit a standstill, as the junta rejected diplomatic missions and the support of neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso, both of which supported the armed takeover.

Mali and Burkina Faso have also appealed to the United Nations to prevent any military intervention in Niger.

The coup leaders in Niger denied entry to African and UN envoys on Tuesday, refusing to negotiate ahead of a summit scheduled for Thursday. During this summit, the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will discuss the potential use of force.

According to Ag Boula’s statement, the CRR supports ECOWAS and other international actors that are working towards restoring constitutional order in Niger. The statement also expressed the group’s willingness to assist ECOWAS in any way deemed useful.

While the extent of support for the CRR remains uncertain, the influence of Ag Boula among Tuaregs, a nomadic ethnic group prevalent in Niger’s northern desert, adds concern for the coup leaders. Tuaregs control commerce and politics in a significant part of the northern region, making their support crucial for the junta’s control beyond the city limits of Niamey.

The United Nations, Western powers, and democratic ECOWAS member states like Nigeria are advocating for the reinstatement of a civilian government by the junta. This government had made notable strides in containing a deadly Islamist insurgency that has been devastating the Sahel region.

Niger’s significance as the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium, a key fuel for nuclear energy, adds to its strategic importance.