Speaking on Niger’s coup, Dr. Luca Raineri, discusses the economical, political, and geographical disadvantages of Niger in a lecture on November 8^th in Guarini Campus.

Student Commentary

By Kylie Short | Edited by Greta Mastroianni

On Nov. 8, at John Cabot University, Dr. Luca Raineri spoke on the inner-turmoil and insecurity that exists within Niger. With the on-going tension in Niger and West Africa, financial security, national safety, and compromise is growing further out of reach. Consistent polarization of the North and the South of Niger is festering great hardship and is enabling people to speak out and react from both sides. Following the election of Mohamed Bazoum – the first democratically elected president since 1960 – tension became paramount, despite the fact that he was unanimously elected. Prior to his election, Bazoum was the minister of State for the Interior.  

It was a shock to many, that Bazoum – representing the minority – took the presidency democratically and was supported by a large population. Speaking on Niger, Dr. Luca Raineri, discussed in the lecture held in Guarini Campus the economic, political, and geographical disadvantages of Niger. Working for Sant’Anna University in Pisa, Dr. Raineri researches trafficking, crime, and terrorism in Africa and along the European borders (Fringe Regionalism When Peripheries Become Regions). After just returning to Italy from Niger, Dr. Raineri shared his recent conclusions to the student body who attended his November 8^th seminar on Niger post-Coup d’Etat.  Dr. Raineri recounts that, upon election, Bazoum decided to start exercising his presidential power and began to “sack” certain political figures. He had eventually planned to replace Abdourahmane Tchianithe, the head of the presidential guard.  

A seemingly “politically correct” president began to enable even more internal conflict upon his decision to replace Tchianithe. This continuous internal struggle led to the July 2023 Niger coup d’etat that took Bazoum hostage whilst ousting him. Raineri said this coup was because of three things: “national security,” “sovereignty,” and “populism.” The people of Niger continue to grow fearful for their lives and the economic state of their home. Dr. Raineri asserts that, “Niger toggles between the poorest country and the second most poor country,” which promotes the intervention of other state actors such as the EU, America, France, etc. Due to Niger’s economic disadvantage, civilians are forced into poverty and are submitted to lives of hardship and struggle. Struggling to maintain a safe country, Niger’s sovereignty is consistently jeopardized as power is constantly transported from the junta, to civil societies, and to the government of Niger. Also, due to the evidently disproportionate representation of communities within Niger, there is civilian backlash in response to the governmental incompetence.  

The July 2023 coup in Niger will remain pivotal in regards to the trajectory of the country. Dr. Raineri also discusses rising conspiracies following the coup. One was that the France had begun providing terrorists of  Niger military power.  France has held an overarching control over Niger and the civilians bear the turmoil that the imperialist government has enabled. Images began circulating through the country and French intervention was speculated more than what it had been previously. To refute these accusations, France decided to debunk the images and prove that they were planted in the media. In response to this refute,  some of Niger’s civilians promoted the belief that France was spying on their media and claimed that the response was proof the French could influence their media. Raineri adds that because of the secular resentment against France, due to its colonial hegemony in Africa, Niger influenced the withdrawal of French troops from Niamey. Reluctant to withdraw, French president, Emmanuel Macron, says that Niger and West Africa is in a “coup d’etat epidemic.” Nonetheless, in October of 2023, French troops pulled out from the capital of Niger.  

Similar to Niger, Mali’s national security is under fire. Also struggling with historical affects of the Western influence in their society, government, and virtually every facet of life, civilians of Mali have grown exasperated due to the continual influence from these Western state actors. Mali’s distaste toward European countries also is growing due to their desire for military power instead of humanitarian training interventions as often provided by the EU, such as workshops, seminars, and classes on human rights. Having done research in Mali, Dr. Raineri discusses the dangerous future of the country. Malian leaders began to stop compromising with EU leaders when they were reluctant to provide military force, so they turned to a Russian military group that offered their help for money. The internal turmoil worsened when other state intervention was withdrawn. This withdrawal made many state actors weary of a growing Russian bias in West African countries, as well as West African political insecurities. Dr. Raineri ends his discussion with a fear that Niger’s military will have a malicious fate similar to the unethical Malian military force.  

As Niger’s internal conflict rose, the surrounding West African, periphery countries began to band together and create an idea that if there was an attack on one country, all of the countries were under attack. This multi-state nationalism began to polarize Niger even further as the military junta made of Black (southern Niger inhabitants) people began helping Mali fight against the white (northern Niger inhabitants) people of Niger. The tension continues to grow close to 2024 and will most likely continue with the EU’s influence negated.  

As the turmoil worsens, many states begin to worry about Russia’s influence on West African countries. States do not want Russia’s influence to replicate the insurgence of Ukraine and allow Putin to further his influence globally. State actors also fear the “coup d’etat epidemic” of these West African countries including: Chad, Gueani, Mali, and Niger. The European Union and other Western state actors are also worried about the livelihood of the people in these Sahel countries. It is recognised that “Niger people are unhappy in Niger for many reasons,” as stated by Dr. Raneri, so they will continue to speak out and their neighboring states will do the same. Developed states need to take action and not act passively as these countries have continuously been fighting for sovereignty, populism, and militarism while their people are starved and not adequately provided for.