Niger New Coup Follows Old Coup

by Daniel J Gerstle · 2010-02-19 10:30:00 UTC
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NigerNot long ago, Niger President Mamadou Tandja was talking amnesty for rebels. Now, members of his own military have captured him and taken power.

Back in 1999, a military junta assassinated the president at that time, then facilitated elections in which Tandja took power. But Tandja recently suspended the constitutional rule limiting him to two terms, so the military felt it was their duty to force him to end his term at gunpoint. Now they claim they will prepare for new elections. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has condemned both sides.

What does this mean for the region and the West? Niger is simultaneously wealthy with oil and uranium while extremely poor and struck with chronic hunger. If the government achieved real reform, the country could theoretically become a leader in the region and Western nations would not need to donate so much to prevent mass suffering and create emergency preparedness systems.

ECOWAS, with Western backing, will probably claim to negotiate for a return to power of Tandja and earliest elections with new candidates. But realistically they will probably simply condemn the military junta and hope for new elections and Tandja will magically re-appear afterward like a sore curmudgeon. If the West is not concerned for the millions of poor, they should at least be concerned about all the aid that was wasted if the government is not saved.

Photo credit: Jeffrey Foxx/UN Photo

Daniel J Gerstle is a journalist, human rights researcher, and humanitarian aid consultant. He is Editor and Chief Correspondent for HELO: The Crisis Story Magazine.
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