The junta in Niger Republic is in a serious dilemma even as it has agreed to release the ousted president of the country, Mohamed Bazoum, and his wife, Khadija.
Multiple sources in Nigeria and the neighbouring Niger, have confirmed plans by the military government to release the ousted president before or within the few days of Ramadan.
It was learnt, however, that the biggest dilemma of the top echelon of the military in Niger Republic is the insistence by Bazoum to remain within Niger, on the grounds that he was not interested in relocating to any other country.
Bazoum has the backing of France President Emmanuel Macron, and by extension, Nigeria’s President and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leader, Bola Tinubu.
The two leaders are not in the good books of the Niger military government, as evident in the back and forth that ensued since the removal of Bazoum and the series of sanctions slammed Niger Republic, alongside Mali and Burkina Faso.
To make things worse, French symbols in Niger, including diplomats have been expelled by the military leaders, even as they have turned deaf ears to all the entreaties extended to them by ECOWAS, including the lifting of bans like border closure and a return to the regional body.
The sources that spoke to Daily Trust on the planned release of Bazoum included diplomats and journalists.
Some locals in the capital, Niamey, as well as Maradi, one of the major cities in that country, said at least one prominent newspaper in the French speaking country had carried a story on the plans to release Bazoum. The sources said the military authorities were working on how to “get it right”, in the event that they allow Bazoum to remain in Niger Republic.
Part of the fear of the junta is the possibility of sympathisers of the ousted president to stage protests demanding for “absolute freedom” for him, since the agreement at the moment is that Bazoum will still remain under some sort of house arrest.
Niger tabloid De L’enqueteur, citing credible sources, said, “The couple will have their detention turned to house arrest any moment before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan due to start Monday and Tuesday.”
Daily Trust reports that Bazoum, his wife, and his son, Salem, were arrested and detained by the coup leaders who took over last July.
The younger Bazoum was released provisionally by the tribunal on January 9. Our sources said there was no French or ECOWAS contribution in the plan to release the ousted president. One of the sources said the plan to release Bazoum was home-grown, meaning it was planned and agreed within Niger.
“The coup leaders have moved on, they are not thinking about France or ECOWAS and they are not looking back,” the source said.
“Neither France nor ECOWAS, and by extension Nigeria has any input in what Niger is doing,” the source added.
Another source said that Bazoum, at his own volition, expressed a clear desire to remain in Niger after his release, thus testifying to his unwavering attachment to the country despite the political turbulence.
“And this is where the coup leaders have some issues…They would have loved a situation whereby Bazoum will leave the shores of the country and go somewhere,” one of the sources said.
“They are mindful of his popularity even though they have, to a greater extent, also proved to the citizens that they are patriots and not puppets of anyone.
“While they are not averse to releasing the removed president, one thing is clear, they are not willing to bring him back to power.
“They will also prefer to keep him in one of their facilities as a freed man. He will be entitled to state protection while enjoying the freedom to receive guests,” the source said. A journalist in the capital, Niamey, told the Daily Trust on the telephone that the former president may likely remain at his private residence in the capital.
According to De L’enqueteur, under house arrest, the former head of state could have increased access to means of communication that could allow him to broadcast messages to his followers and influence public opinion.
Meanwhile, the development could create dissent within the de facto ruling military junta of Niger, Conseil National pour la Sauvegarde de la Patrie, (CNSP) – the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland – itself, between the liberals and hardliners among its members.
Contacted, a university teacher in Niamey, Dr Mamman Manzo, said he was not aware of any plan to release Bazoum.
“A lot of things are happening but I am not privy to the issue you are talking about. I would have to make some findings,” he said. Early last August, media reports had it that Bazoum and his family were being held under inhumane conditions by their military leaders, who had cut off the electricity to the presidential residence, leaving them to rapidly lose weight while food rotted in the fridge, the president’s daughter told the Guardian at the time.
The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS had in late February lifted most sanctions imposed on Niger over last year’s coup, in a new push for dialogue following a series of political crises that have rocked the region in recent months.
Earlier in February, the head of the military government in the Niger Republic, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, vowed that none of the three Sahel countries would rejoin the regional bloc.
Late January, the leaders of the three Sahel nations – Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso issued a statement, saying it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.
Why Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali are silent on return to ECOWAS
In an interview with the Daily Trust, Ali Kabre, an independent journalist with ample knowledge of happenings in Burkina Faso, said anything could happen in the three countries.
“I want to speak about Burkina Faso specifically. The junta here has moved on and they are forging new alliances.
“As you can see, they are not even looking at the direction of ECOWAS because they have a feeling that the regional body is not in the first place meeting their expectations. That is why even when the ECOWAS leadership asked them to come back, they kept mute.
“Most importantly, getting supply of essential commodities is also not a problem for Burkina Faso. They have unfettered access through other neighbouring countries,” Kabre said.
Burkina Faso, a landlocked country shares borders with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Niger and Mali.
“They get supplies with ease from Benin and in return, they have also opened their borders for Niger, which also gets supplies without many difficulties,” he said.
On the body language of the citizens, he said there are divergent opinions.
“Some citizens believe ECOWAS is not fulfilling its mandate. For instance, the issue of ECO as a single currency has not been resolved. Also, contrary to expectations, all these years, trade has not been free, there are a lot of gaps for free trade. So, some citizens don’t really care about going back to ECOWAS,” he said. He said from the body language of the three countries, they could survive as independent nations while strengthening their economic and developmental cooperation.
“They all have issues with terrorists and they felt ECOWAS did not play the role of a key senior ally to support them. With the establishment of AES, they are now pursuing a common front,” he said.
Foreign ministry mum
When contacted to react to the news of the imminent release of the ousted President of Niger Republic, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, declined comments.
However, a reliable source in the ministry, who pleaded anonymity, said the release of the ousted president was expected. The source noted that ECOWAS had listed the release of the ousted president as part of the conditions to lift the sanctions placed on the Sahel country but had to soft pedal after the intervention of Gen. Yakubu Gowon (Rtd).
“The Nigerian government right from day one has been demanding the release of Mohamed Bazoum. It used to be a precondition for the lifting of the sanction but because of Gen. Gowon’s intervention, because of the Lent and because of Ramadan, the sanctions were lifted.
“If President Bazoum is released now, I think it’s good for democracy, it is good for them as a country because President Bazoum has not done anything to warrant him being under house arrest,” the source said.
On the reports that Niger had vowed not to deal with Nigeria and ECOWAS by extension as a result of loss of trust, the source declined to comment, saying it was wrong to make any comment based on speculations.
“I can’t speak to hearsay. If it is documented, if there is a letter to that effect, then, I can speak about it,” the source maintained.
[DailyTrust]