Niger pays the price of the coup… Largest death toll in two years due to terrorism
Extremist groups in Niger escalated their attacks following the military coup, raising doubts about cooperation with the U.S. military.
Until the coup in late July, this West African country had been a reliable ally of the United States and Europe – a success story in a region plagued by coups, and a key partner for Washington in the fight against extremism, according to The Washington Post.
However, violence against civilians by ISIS and the local al-Qaeda affiliate quadrupled in the month following the coup. Dozens of soldiers were killed in attacks attributed to ISIS and the al-Nusra Front over the past few months, according to data from conflict tracking websites and events.
A short-lived success story
The West African Sahel region, which includes Niger, has become a global hotbed of extremism in recent years, with 43% of the 6,701 fatalities in 2022 occurring there, according to the Global Terrorism Index prepared by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
Contrary to this, Niger saw a decline in the number of deaths from terrorism in the past two years, and analysts attributed this decline to Niger’s strong military, the assistance of France and the United States in counterterrorism efforts, and the successful dialogue efforts led by Bazoum with local extremist groups, including disarming fighters.
However, the situation changed after the military coup, with August being the bloodiest month since March 2021. Analysts and Western officials expect extremist groups to intensify their activities due to the political situation in Niger, amid doubts about the ability of the Nigerien military to confront them.
Suspension of U.S. Aid
Shortly after the coup, the United States suspended several counterterrorism operations and joint activities with the Nigerien military, according to a senior official at the State Department who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation. The Pentagon withdrew some of its forces and reinforced the remainder in the Agadez and Niamey bases. At the same time, the French halted their military operations.
Following the failure to make progress in negotiations with the military council, the State Department officially described the takeover of power earlier this month as a “coup,” meaning that the United States is no longer able to assist the Nigerien military. Current U.S. operations in Niger are limited to protecting its forces, in addition to reducing U.S. aid by over $500 million, despite the possibility of continuing humanitarian aid.
A Popular Haven for the Coup Despite internal divisions within the military council, analysts and officials believe that it has succeeded in mobilizing support from many Nigeriens, hundreds of whom gather every night at the military airport waving Nigerien, Russian, Malian, and Burkinabe flags to support the government’s decision to withdraw the French military.
However, some wonder if the coup is worth the trouble, while others mourn the absence of democracy.
Moussa Changari, a civil society activist, expressed concern that most of the young people supporting the military council have no idea what it means to live under a military regime, and that the government has no plan to move beyond the old ideas that have prevailed for decades.
