AN ASSESSMENT OF THE 2023 NIGER REPUBLIC MILITARY TAKEOVER: FACT SHEET AND THE RESPONSE OF ECOWAS

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Background of the study

A pivotal moment in West African political history, the military coup in the Niger Republic in 2023 had far-reaching effects on the stability and administration of the area. This incident shows the complexity of regional reactions to similar crises as well as the ongoing difficulties in consolidating democracy in the area. In response to the political unrest in Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been instrumental, demonstrating its continued commitment to preserving democratic values and regional stability. An abrupt and significant change in the political landscape occurred in the Niger Republic at the end of July 2023 when General Abdourahamane Tchiani led a faction of the military in a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum's democratically elected government. Growing discontent within the military over a number of factors, including as suspected corruption in the administration, instability, and inadequate economic management, led to the coup (BBC, 2023). The leaders of the coup defended their actions by saying that they were necessary to address popular complaints and restore national stability. Several coups have occurred in Niger's history since it gained independence from France in 1960. Chronic poverty, pervasive corruption, and the government's inability to adequately confront the danger posed by Islamist terrorist organisations operating in the Sahel area are the main causes of the coup of 2023 (Al Jazeera, 2023). The coup also represented larger regional dynamics, including as the repercussions of hostilities in nearby nations like Burkina Faso and Mali, which have also seen coups in recent years.  The international world strongly denounced the coup in the early aftermath, while internal sentiments were more mixed. A return to authoritarian government and increased instability were fears held by some sections of the populace, while others supported the coup because they saw it as a possible catalyst for change (The Guardian, 2023). Along with the suspension of the constitution and the disintegration of governmental institutions, the coup also left a power vacuum and raised questions about the political future of the nation. The coup was instantly denounced by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which demanded that Niger's constitutional order be restored immediately.  With the goal of advancing regional integration and preserving peace and stability in West Africa, ECOWAS has a history of opposing illegitimate political transitions. ECOWAS responded to the coup by placing economic sanctions on Niger and threatening more action if the leaders of the coup refused to back the president who had been overthrown (Reuters, 2023). In a further diplomatic effort to settle the situation, ECOWAS dispatched high-ranking delegates to Niger to have talks with the coup leaders. The regional organisation made an effort to strike a compromise between the necessity to prevent the situation from getting worse by using only punitive measures and its strong position on democratic values. 

This policy is in line with ECOWAS's larger plan to address political issues in the region by combining sanctions with communication and mediation (Africanews, 2023). The coup in Niger in 2023 will have a big impact on the whole West African continent. It calls into question how successful regional and global systems are in deterring coups and advancing democratic government. The coup also highlights the continued difficulties in resolving governance concerns, economic hardship, and security threats, all of which are frequently the cause of political instability in the area (Council on Foreign Relations, 2023).  The military coup in the Niger Republic in 2023 and the ECOWAS reaction show how intricately internal grievances and regional stability interact. The prompt denunciation and application of sanctions by ECOWAS demonstrate its dedication to preserving democratic principles, and its diplomatic endeavours highlight the significance of mediation in settling political disputes. With ramifications for the future of democratic government and stability in West Africa, the situation in Niger presents a crucial test for the region's capacity to manage and resolve crises. Therefore, the study assess the 2023 Niger republic military takeover: fact sheet and the response of ECOWAS

Statement of the problem

A complex issue involving the country's administration, regional stability, and the function of international organisations such as ECOWAS in managing political crises is the military coup in the Niger Republic in 2023. This section highlights the difficulties and complications involved in examining the main problems arising from the coup and the ECOWAS reaction that followed. The coup is a major blow to Niger's democratic government, which has suffered from political unrest ever since it attained independence. The military's overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum casts doubt on the democratic process and makes one wonder if democratic institutions can withstand domestic unrest and outside pressure. (BBC, 2023). This incident emphasises how brittle democracy is in Niger, where military interventions have repeatedly disrupted the development of democratic norms and practices. Niger is located in an area where there are several security issues, including the existence of extremist Islamist organisations like Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa. These security problems are made worse by the coup, which may leave a power vacuum that extremist organisations might take advantage of to increase their activities and influence (Al Jazeera, 2023). Furthermore, the coup's political unrest threatens to exacerbate Niger's already grave humanitarian crisis, where a sizable portion of the populace lives in food poverty and lacks access to essential services. 

The coup has important economic ramifications as well. Following the takeover, Niger was subject to trade restrictions and financial transaction suspensions as part of the economic sanctions imposed by ECOWAS (Reuters, 2023). These actions run the danger of making the already impoverished populace further worse, even though their goal is to put pressure on the coup leaders to reinstate constitutional order. The penalties may exacerbate the socioeconomic difficulties that regular people suffer by raising unemployment, inflating the economy, and lowering living standards. The stability of the West African area is more broadly affected by the coup in Niger. It creates a concerning precedent that would inspire military forces to think about taking similar measures in other nations, undercutting initiatives to advance democratic government throughout the region.  The state of affairs in Niger may have unintended consequences that might destabilise other nations and make it more difficult to combat international concerns like organised crime and terrorism (Council on Foreign Relations, 2023). The way that ECOWAS handled the coup highlights the difficulties that regional groups have when handling political upheavals. Although ECOWAS's quick denunciation and implementation of penalties demonstrate its dedication to democratic ideals, these actions might not be enough to end the problem on their own. Given the complexity of the situation on the ground and the disparate interests of member nations, the organization's capacity to successfully negotiate and bring about a peaceful conclusion is vital but challenging (Africanews, 2023). Hence, the study examines 2023 Niger republic military takeover: fact sheet and the response of ECOWAS.

Objective of the study

The broad objective of the study is to assess 2023 Niger republic military takeover: fact sheet and the response of ECOWAS. The specific objectives is as follows

To examine the history and formation of ECOWAS

To investigate the fact sheet on the factors responsible for the occurrence of justified coup de”tat

To assess the contribution of ECOWAS towards restoring democratic governance in countries where coup has taken place.

Research questions

The following questions have been prepared to guide the study

What is the history and formation of ECOWAS?

What are the fact sheet on the factors responsible for the occurrence of justified coup de”tat?

What are the contribution of ECOWAS towards restoring democratic governance in countries where coup has taken place?

Significance of the study

The study will be significant to government across west Africa as it will expose them on the need to run a government that respects human right, and creating opportunity for the populace to thrive, creating employment opportunity, reducing the spate of corruption among political office holders. As the aformentioned factors have been found t be the reason for military take overs.

The study is significant to the academic community as it will contribute to the existing literature.

Scope of the study

The study focus on  2023 Niger republic military takeover: fact sheet and the response of ECOWAS. Empirically, the study will examine the history and formation of ECOWAS,  investigate the fact sheet on the factors responsible for the occurrence of justified coup de”tat and assess the contribution of ECOWAS towards restoring democratic governance in countries where coup has taken place.

Research methodology

Research methodology deals with the different ways or methods the researcher applied in order to carry out the research as well as the instrument used for gathering the data. There are several research methodologies appropriate for answering the research questions. The type of research methodology used in this research to gather data and relevant information is the historical research and the study will adopt descriptive method of data collection. This will involve the collection of materials from secondary sources, such as books, journal articles, magazines, internet sources, international and national conference proceedings, published and unpublished articles.

1.8 Organization of the study

The study consisted of five chapters. Chapter one comprised background of the  and a general introduction to the work. It included statement of problem of the study, highlighted the objectives of the study, the scope within which the research was conducted is also highlighted. An outline of how the work is organized is also detailed in the chapter one. The chapter two of the study examine the history and formation of ECOWAS. The chapter three investigate the fact sheet on the factors responsible for the occurrence of justified coup de”tat. Chapter four assess the contribution of ECOWAS towards restoring democratic governance in countries where coup has taken place and the chapter five deals with the summary of the major findings, recommendations and conclusion to the study.

---

---