非洲風情：尼日爾政變與薩赫勒唯一希望

西非尼日爾軍方發動政變，總統巴祖姆遭扣押及軟禁於總統府。空軍上校阿布德拉曼發表電視講話，稱已推翻巴祖姆，警告外國不要干預；又宣布關閉所有政府機關、陸空邊境及實施宵禁。原總統衛隊指揮官蒂亞尼自立為國家新領導人，重申當地安全局勢持續惡化，加上經濟和社會管理不善，出兵為了保護國家安全。

在首都尼亞美，有民眾上街支持巴祖姆，試圖走近政府建築被士兵開槍驅散。另有示威者參與支持軍事政變的集會，有人遊行至前宗主國法國的大使館，縱火、擲石，甚至試圖闖入，抗議中止援助。軍方領袖呼籲示威者克制；法國愛麗舍宮發表聲明，指總統馬克龍決不容忍針對法國及其利益的攻擊。

位於西非的尼日爾，國土三分之二都是沙漠，惟國內擁有龐大鈾礦牀，而鈾屬核工業關鍵原料。主要依靠核能發電的法國，半世紀前就在當地北部採鈾。作為全球最貧窮國家之一，尼日爾年均接受約二十億美元西方援助。前叛軍領袖阿格布拉成立反政變組織「共和國抵抗委員會」，對國內衝突加添一重不穩因素。

自一九六零年脫離法國獨立以來，尼日爾共經歷四次政變。二零二一年上任的巴祖姆是當地首名民選總統。非洲聯盟發表聲明譴責政變。西非國家經濟共同體強烈譴責軍人，企圖透過武力奪取政權，呼籲立即無條件釋放巴祖姆。聯合國秘書長古特雷斯譴責任何以武力奪權行為，停止阻礙國家民主治理和尊重法治。

多國宣布撤僑，法國表明只承認巴祖姆的領袖地位，表示支持制裁政變者，又與歐盟宣布中止援助。美國國務卿布林肯稱，政治不穩威脅到美方與尼方經濟和安全伙伴關係，要求盡快恢復憲法秩序和民主管治。西非國家經濟共同體十五成員國，及西非經濟貨幣聯盟八個成員國，宣布暫停與尼日爾所有金融及貨幣交易。

位於北非撒哈拉沙漠及中非蘇丹草原之間的薩赫勒地區，橫跨逾十個國家。該地區政變頻繁，充斥聖戰分子，包括兩個主要聖戰武裝組織伊斯蘭國和蓋達的分支，巴祖姆被西方視為維持地區穩定「唯一希望」，是西方打擊西非武裝分子重要盟友。舉例法國去年與馬里臨時政府交惡後，將軍隊從馬里調至尼日爾。

連同尼日爾政變，中西非地區自二零二零年發生約七場政變，外界擔心屬俄羅斯拓展非洲勢力，與西方競逐影響力的局面。僱傭兵部隊「瓦格納集團」是俄方「拓荒」的「白手套」，在多國提供軍事安全服務以換取天然資源控制權，而馬里及布基納法素的民選總統先後在政變被推翻，軍方領袖均展示反法親俄立場。

西非國家經濟共同體連番制裁尼日爾，包括凍結國有企業及政變人員資產等，要求政變軍方交還權力，惟最後通牒限期屆滿仍未獲回應。面對西共體擬軍事介入，尼日爾軍方稱已邀請屯於馬里的俄羅斯僱傭兵部隊「瓦格納集團」襄助。同由軍政府把持的鄰國馬里和布基納法索警告，若西共體出兵等同向兩國「宣戰」。

阿布德拉曼透露，軍政府將控告巴祖姆串謀叛國及危害國家安全罪，西共體質疑此舉是「另一形式的挑釁」，違反軍政府宣稱和平解決危機的意願。西共體代表團終抵達尼日爾，與軍政府首腦奇亞尼和總統巴祖姆會面。軍政府承諾三年內完成民主轉型，恢復文人政府管治，警告任何對該國攻擊並非「輕而易舉的事」。

Military Coup in the “Only Hope” of Sahel Region

Soldiers in Niger seized power in a coup. While the country’s borders were closed, President Mohamed Bazoum was detained at his official residence. Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane broadcasted a statement on national television, claiming that the coup followed the continuous deterioration of the security situation, the bad social and economic management.

Demonstrators gathered on the street to show support for democracy and Bazoum. Hundreds of supporters of the coup set fire to the headquarters of the governing party and the French embassy in Niamey. As the country’s former colonial power, French President Emmanuel Macron “will not tolerate any attack against France and its interests”.

Two-thirds of Niger is desert, but this country is the world’s biggest uranium producer. France, which relies on nuclear power, has been mining uranium in the north for half a century. Today, Niger receives $2 billion aid from the West annually. Former rebel Rhissa Ag Boula and his Council of Resistance for the Republic launches an anti-coup to restore constitutional order.

Since independence from France in 1960, Niger has experienced 4 coups. Bazoum was the first elected president who took office in 2021. The African Union has suspended Niger. ECOWAS condemned the Niger coup and called for their immediate and unconditional release of Bazoum. The Secretary-General strongly condemned the unconstitutional change of its government.

Many countries have announced evacuation of their citizens. Bazoum only recognised Bazoum as the only legitimate president, and suspended all development aid and budget with the EU. US Secretary of State Blinken said the US economic support for Niger is at risk as military takeover threatens stability. ECOWAS and WAEMU have suspended all financial transactions with Niger.

Located between the Sahara Desert in North Africa and the Sudan Savanna in Central Africa, the Sahel region covers over 10 countries. It has been plagued by coups and jihadists, including ISIS and Al-Qaeda, and Bazoum has been the West's only hope in the region. For instance, European and French special forces have been deployed from Mali to secure its borders in 2022.

With the coup in Niger, the Central and West Africa has experienced 7 coups since 2020, raising concerns about Russia expanding its influence via Wagner Group. The group provides military security services in exchange for control over natural resources. Both elected presidents in Mali and Burkina Faso were overthrown in coups by pro-Russian military leaders.

ECOWAS imposed multiple sanctions, including freezing the assets of state-owned enterprises and coup participants. The ultimatum expired without a response. Facing the potential military intervention from ECOWAS, the coup leaders have invited the “Wagner Group” for assistance. Mali and Burkina Faso would be considered a "declaration of war" against their two countries.

Niger's military junta announced to prosecute Bazoum for high treason and undermining national security. Ecowas said the move was a new form of provocation which contradicted the military's willingness for a peaceful crisis solution. Delegations arrived in Niger for a last-ditch diplomatic push, and the military leaders promised a transition back to democracy.

IMG: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/8/6/defiance-fear-in-niger-as-ecowas-deadline-looms