Calm pervades Niger’s capital as deadline to reverse coup expires, but vigilantes observed
- In the capital Niamey, citizens seem unfazed by the threat of outside military action following the junta’s July 26 power grab
- The coup has rocked the region, one of the poorest in the world and which has strategic significance for Russia, China and the West
Niger’s capital was calm on Sunday morning, with citizens appearing to pay little heed to the threat of military intervention by West Africa’s regional bloc, as its ultimatum for the country’s coup leaders to reinstate the president expires.
On Niamey’s streets there were sporadic signs of support for the junta, which has said it will not bow to external pressure to stand down following the July 26 power grab.
However, some youths in the capital were later seen to have formed vigilante groups. They set up traffic checkpoints at several roundabouts and were inspecting vehicles, according to one reporter in the city.
The youths are said to belong to support committees that previously organised demonstrations backing Niger’s new military rulers led by democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum’s former head bodyguard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani.
Defence chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed on military action on July 30, including when and where to strike, if the detained President was not released and reinstated by Sunday.
The seventh coup in West and Central Africa in three years has rocked the Western Sahel region, one of the poorest in the world and which has strategic significance for Russia, China and the West.
