NIGER
After 4 coups d’etat in its history Niger had its peaceful transition of power since independence in 2021. However, the aggravating poverty, violence, and the rising anti-Western sentiment prompted a coup d’etat in 2023 that changed not only the politics but the social fabric of the country.
International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA).
Editor’s Note
The 2023 coup in Niger seemed inevitable following the coups in Mali (2021) and Burkina Faso (2022). The violence created by the jihadist movements in the region and the increasing poverty made Niger, the last Western ally standing, fall under military rule. If Mali and Burkina Faso surfed on the anti-France wave, Niger took it to another level. With protestors waving Russian flags, it is possible to argue that when it comes to influencing wars, the Sahel might be one of the biggest losses of the West. As American troops leave Niger, I wonder is this the beginning of a larger anti-imperialist movement or are we replacing six with half a dozen?
