By Bashir Aliyu
As the hope of quick return to democratic rule in Niger Republic dashes, the Nigerian minister of foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar said the country will continue to exert diplomatic pressure on the country’s military junta to release the ousted president Bazoum Muhammad.
President Bazoum Muhammad was put under arrest when the presidential guard commander, General Abdourahmane Tchiani staged a military coup on July 26, 2023, proclaiming himself as the head of state. The ECOWAS and international community condemned the takeover, with ECOWAS suspending the country, and imposing sever sanctions on the country. Nigeria, which is shares largest border with country along its northern border closed its borders, suspends banking and commercial trade with country as well as cutting off electricity supply which accounts for over 80% of the country’s electricity.
Under the leadership of the veteran diplomat, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar added democracy among the key foreign policy priorities of the Nigerian government under President Tinubu, and the foreign minister made it clear that the crippling economic sanctions imposed on the country could on be relaxed if the junta allowed the detained president to leave and relocate to a neutral country.
“We are asking them to release President Bazoum so that he will be allowed to leave Niger. He will no loner be in custody. He will go to a third country that is mutually agreed upon, and then we start talking about removal of sanctions,” Tuggar told newsmen.
Many analysts view the statement by Mr. Tuggar as a hardened position that signals that any removal of sanctions can only be considered when the country takes steps toward return to civilian rule. Nigeria who is the lifeline of Niger’s economy holds enormous economic advantages over the country as the impact of the sanctions border closure and halt to electricity export to the country bite harder than other sanctions imposed by other members of the ECOWAS. Frequent blackouts and soaring prices of commodities are widely being reported since Nigeria shelved the use of force and opted to impose sweeping economic sanctions on the country.
The Nigerian Foreign Minister also dispels a conspiracy theory that his country is being dictated by foreign powers to act aggressively against its northern neighbour.
“That’s pure propaganda. Those are lies. Everybody knows Nigeria’s track record when it comes to standing for what is right – the fight for freedom in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Angola, and Mozambique. We are always there. We remain consistent. We see what we’re doing also about Palestine and what is happening in Gaza. This is exactly what we’re also saying about the situation in Niger.” He said.
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