A year has passed since mutinous soldiers ousted Niger’s president, Mohamed Bazoum, citing the country’s severe security and economic issues as justification for their takeover. Despite the coup leaders’ promises to address these crises, the situation has only deteriorated.
Niger, with a population of 26 million people who are among the world’s youngest and poorest, faces mounting struggles. The junta’s severing of ties with key international partners led to sanctions and a suspension of support, which has severely impacted nearly half of Niger’s budget.
Once supportive crowds on the streets have grown increasingly frustrated as the economic hardship deepens. Niger has joined Mali and Burkina Faso in being governed by a military junta, and together, they formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The junta also announced their departure from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), although ECOWAS has yet to officially recognize this departure.
Following the coup, Benin closed its border with Niger, cutting off access to the crucial port of Benin, the main route for imports. Although ECOWAS sanctions were lifted earlier this year, the border closure and dwindling foreign aid continue to impact the economy.
Residents in Niamey, the capital, are feeling the financial strain, with basic staples becoming increasingly unaffordable. Hamssatou Saley, shopping for her family, remarked on the high prices, while Hamidou Ibrahim stressed the need for price reductions.
Niger ranks as one of the poorest countries globally, sitting at 189 out of 193 on the UN’s 2022 Human Development Index. Many families are struggling to support large households on a single income. Former food processing worker Harouna Mamane Nour, now unemployed, is among those calling for relief from the rising cost of living.
Junta leaders from Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger recently met in Niamey, rejecting a return to ECOWAS, which they accuse of succumbing to Western influence. Like their counterparts, Niger’s junta has sought military cooperation with Russia and expelled French forces. U.S. troops are also scheduled to withdraw by September 15.
As the junta solidifies its power, the promised three-year transition to civilian rule appears increasingly unlikely to be fulfilled on schedule.
