A military group has declared ‘end to the regime’ in Niger

In Niger Republic,  a military group has declared ‘end to the regime’, citing ‘deteriorating security situation and bad governance’. Of course, what again do they say when they move from barracks to presidential mansions in Africa? But this one is worrisome when you see what happened in Mali and Guinea recently.

In a video communique, a man identified as Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane and flanked by several apparent soldiers, announced, “We have decided to put an end to the regime that you know,” citing a deteriorating security situation in the country and “poor economic and social governance.”

National institutions have been suspended and the country’s land borders are temporarily closed, he also said, appearing to read from a text on the table before him.

Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou called the soldiers’ actions “an attempted coup d’etat” but said “the totality of the army was not behind the coup.”

He called on “mutinous officers to return to their ranks” in an interview with French television station France 24, adding that mediation efforts are under way, including those by the president of Nigeria who is “dialoguing with the military.”

The challenge here is that Africa has diminished because everyone (except a few countries in southern Africa) is fighting bandits, rascals, terrorists, etc to the extent that no one has spare anything to lead.

There are coups everywhere in West Africa, from mindless election rigging to AK47-ing, making things harder.  With the US very busy in Ukraine and the United Nations voting “present” these days on critical global issues, this is a moment for the African Union to come together. If these men see coups as another sector, many bad things will happen.

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