On July 26, a military coup took place in the African country Niger. President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by a small group within the military. He was the first democratically elected president since Niger gained independence from France in 1960. The UN and the African Union condemned the coup. The United States and European leaders also expressed major concerns and demanded Bozoum’s immediate release. Nigerian President Bola Tinubu went much further. Backed by France and the U.S., he issued a threat on behalf of the Economic Community of West African States or ECOWAS. The threat included the possibility of imposing harsh sanctions and even a military intervention, if the junta refused to restore the elected president. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea, which are also governed by military juntas, have expressed solidarity with Niger and offered their assistance in the event of a military attack. The new leaders apparently also enjoy great support among the population. The events in Niger mark the seventh coup in Africa's Sahel region since 2020. The concerns of Western powers about the situation in Niger have little to do with the support of democracy or human rights. They are primarily driven by economic and geopolitical interests.

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