Algeria watches as Niger crisis unfolds

Ahmed Adel

Algeria plays an important role in developments in the Sahel and Sahara region, especially after the coup that took place in neighbouring Niger.

The one-week moratorium given by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the Military Council in Niger to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum had already come to an end on Sunday.

The member countries of the bloc threatened to militarily intervene in Niger, if the council fails to bring the ousted president back to power.

Algeria has already categorically rejected military intervention in its southern neighbour.

It called for a return to constitutional legitimacy, expressing its readiness to help, even without revealing details about any future efforts to restore political stability in Niger.

On July 26, members of the Presidential Guard detained president Bazoum and his family.

After failing to force him to announce his resignation, they suspended the Constitution and announced the formation of the Transitional Council for the Protection of the Homeland.

The council is led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the former commander of the Presidential Guard.

Algerian rejection

Since the overthrow of Bazoum, Algeria stuck to a diplomatic and a principled reaction to the crisis in Niger.

Algiers even expressed rejection of the coup. However, its possible role in the coming stages remains unclear.

Algeria and Niger are linked by a common border that stretches for about 1,000 kilometres. The two countries also have human and historical ties.

These ties put Algeria at the centre of any political or security transition in Niger which is rich in natural resources, but is extremely poor economically.

So far, the coup team, led by Tchiani, has not presented a policy roadmap for running the country, which explains Algeria’s reluctance to disclose its possible future role.

The coup leaders are under intense pressure from the West, especially the US, France, and the European Union.

They are also under pressure from ECOWAS member states to release President Bazoum and return to constitutional legitimacy.

ECOWAS member states’ leaders are due to hold an extraordinary summit on Niger on Thursday in Abuja, the organization announced the day after the expiration of the deadline set for the coup to restore President Bazoum to office.

After official statements and telephone conversations, Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune said his country rejected military intervention by ECOWAS member states to end the coup in Niger.

It is clear from his position that his country does not support the military option, does not intend to participate in it and does not intend to take punitive measures against the coup leaders in Niger.

On Saturday, President Tebboune said in an interview with local media that his country “categorically and completely rejects the use of force in Niger”.

He said current problems in the neighbouring country should rather be resolved via peaceful means.

President Tebboune even warned that military intervention would be a direct threat to Algeria because of its repercussions on it and on the region as a whole.

“Those who have brains should look at the countries where military intervention had happened,” the Algerian leader said.

“Problems still exist today in Libya, Yemen and Syria,” he added.

“Never before in our history have we shed the blood of our brothers or friends, and we will not do that,” President Tebboune said.

He added that his country would intervene only to help its neighbours economically and at the level of development.

He cited a similar position Algeria took with Mali two years ago.

Sound positions

African affairs specialist, Nasser Mamoun Essa, said Algeria’s stated position on the coup in Niger is consistent with international and constitutional legitimacy.

Algeria, he said, has sound diplomatic positions and cannot support any coup.

“The importance of Niger to Algeria makes it important for the latter to closely monitor the situation,” Essa said.

“Any negative developments in Niger will reflect directly on Algeria,” he told The Reference.