In what appears to be another major internal crisis in Niger Republic, reports indicate that Rhissa Ag Boula, a former rebel leader and politician has launched a movement opposing the junta who seized power on July 26
Ag Boula said in a statement on Wednesday that his new Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR) aimed to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, who had been in detention at his residence since the takeover.
He said “Niger is the victim of a tragedy orchestrated by people charged with protecting it,”
The statement added that the CRR supports ECOWAS and any other international actors seeking to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Ag Boula ,a Tuareg- a group of people located in Northern Niger and North East Mali played a leading role in his ethnic group’s rebellion of 2007-2009 .
However, he was integrated into Bazoum and his predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou’s government.
Ag Boula ‘s resistance comes as efforts by the regional body, Economic Community of West African States ECOWAS, to restore democracy in the country failed.
The coupists also denied entry to a delegation of African Union and the United Nations on Tuesday raising fears of anarchy in the country.
Already, the ECOWAS sanctions ordered in the wake of the coup are having ripple effects on the economic and social aspects of Niger. Nigeria:s power cut to Niger is said to have thrown more than 70 % of the country into darkness, ECOWAS member states where the accounts of Niger and key actors in the coup are domiciled are seized along with other assets.
As the deadline on its ultimatum to Niger expired on Sunday without any glimpse of success,ECOWAS leaders have scheduled a meeting on Thursday to ruminate further on the situation.
.
.
.
