Niger: Germany presses for sanctions on Abdourahmane Tchiani-led junta 

Germany has re-emphasised the call for heavy sanctions against Niger’s military rulers, ahead of an EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Thursday

“Germany is working hard to quickly get a sanctions regime underway, so that we can make it clear that, as democratic states of the EU, that we stand by other democracies when they need us,” Annalena Baerbock told reporters in Toledo, Spain.

The German top diplomat also pledged her backing for the efforts of the West African bloc ECOWAS to persuade the military leaders in Niger to restore constitutional order after President Mohamed Bazoum was removed via a coup.

“The neighboring states in the Sahel, and the ECOWAS states, made it clear that no democracy in this world can simply look the other way when another democracy is being wiped away,” she said.

“The situation is anything but easy, and that is why it is so important that we continue to strengthen the cooperation between the ECOWAS and the EU over the next few months stand up for international law,” she added.

Recall that Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, a former commander of the presidential guard, led a military coup that kicked out President Mohamed Bazoum from power. He has been detained in house arrest since July 26.

Mr. Bazoum was elected in 2021 in Niger’s first democratic power transition since the West African country attained independence from France in 1960.