- Niger experiences rolling blackouts after Nigeria suspends power supplies to its northern neighbor.
- Ecowas imposes sanctions on Niger in response to the coup but hasn’t clarified if electricity supplies are included.
- European nations evacuate their citizens from Niger as the crisis continues.
Following last week’s coup in the West African nation of Niger, major communities are experiencing rolling blackouts.
Nigelec, the electricity company of Niger, explains that Nigeria suspended power supplies to its northern neighbor, causing power shortages.
Ecowas, a West African trading bloc, has imposed sanctions on Niger in response to the rebellion but has not specified whether or not this includes electricity supplies.
Ecowas defense ministers convene in Nigeria to discuss the crisis in Niger.
Sunday, West African leaders gave Niger’s military junta one week to step down or face the possibility of military intervention.
Currently, European nations are evacuating their citizens from Niger.
The residents of Niamey, Maradi, and Zinder have access to electricity for approximately one hour before it is turned off for up to five hours.
This is an unusual occurrence in Niger, which typically has dependable power supplies.
However, the country relies significantly on its wealthier southern neighbor, Nigeria, as its primary source of electricity.
The Nigerian Transmission Company declined to comment on the power outages in Niger.
The democratically elected president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown in a military coup by his presidential security who were stationed outside his palace last week.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani, director of the presidential guard, was installed as head of state following the suspension of the constitution.
The military administration of Niger has reopened its borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, and Chad. Its borders remain restricted with Nigeria.
As mediation continues following the coup, an Ecowas (Economic Community of West African States) delegation is convening in Niger on Wednesday. It is led by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, the former military chief of state of Nigeria, who oversaw the country’s 1999 transition from military rule to democracy.
According to reports, the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, the most senior Muslim leader in Nigeria, is also a member of the committee. He also controls a region of Niger that was part of the powerful Sokoto Caliphate before British domination.
Now, evacuation flights are beginning to appear in Europe. Amid anti-French sentiment in the country, 262 French citizens landed in Paris early Wednesday morning.
The coup provoked demonstrations against the former colonial power, including attacks on the French embassy.
France says it has no intentions to withdraw the approximately one thousand soldiers stationed there to combat Islamist militants.
