Major cities in Niger are experiencing power outages following last week’s military coup, as Nigeria has cut off electricity supplies to its northern neighbour. The power shortages are affecting residents in the cities of Niamey, Maradi, and Zinder, who have access to electricity for only about an hour at a time before it is switched off for up to five hours. This is an unusual situation for Niger, which typically enjoys regular and reliable power supplies.
Niger relies heavily on Nigeria, its wealthier southern neighbour, to fulfill its electricity needs. However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria has declined to comment on the power cuts. According to an anonymous source, the supply to Niger was severed on Tuesday following a presidential directive. The situation has left many Nigeriens frustrated and struggling without consistent access to electricity.
The power outages can be attributed to the recent military coup that took place in Niger. President Mohamed Bazoum, who was democratically-elected, was overthrown by his own presidential guards, and General Abdourahmane Tchiani, chief of the presidential guard, was installed as the new head of state. This led to the suspension of the country’s constitution and has triggered a series of events, including sanctions imposed by the West African trading bloc Ecowas.
The Ecowas sanctions, aimed at pressuring the military junta to give up power, have not clarified whether electricity supplies are included in the restrictions. However, power cuts have indeed been experienced in major cities, indicating that Nigeria has taken action in response to the coup.
The situation in Niger has attracted international attention, with European countries evacuating their citizens from the country. Flights have been arranged to repatriate individuals back to Europe due to concerns over safety and security. A total of 262 French citizens were flown back to Paris early on Wednesday. The coup has also sparked anti-French sentiment in Niger, leading to protests and an attack on the French embassy. Despite this, France has stated that it does not plan to withdraw the 1,000 French soldiers stationed in Niger as part of efforts to counter Islamist militants.
On Sunday, West African leaders issued an ultimatum to Niger’s military junta, giving them one week to surrender power or face intervention. The military government has responded by reopening Niger’s borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, and Chad, but has kept the borders with Nigeria closed.
In an attempt to mediate and find a resolution, a delegation from Ecowas, led by Nigeria’s former military head of state Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, is currently meeting in Niger. Gen Abubakar is well-regarded for overseeing Nigeria’s successful transition from military rule to democracy in 1999. The delegation also includes the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’adu Abubakar III, who holds significant influence in both Nigeria and Niger.
As the discussions continue, the people of Niger are enduring the challenges posed by the power shortages. The situation underscores the vulnerability of the country’s energy dependency on Nigeria and the urgent need for a swift resolution to the political crisis. As the international community closely monitors the events unfolding in Niger, the hope is that a peaceful and democratic solution can be reached to restore stability and address the power shortages plaguing the nation.
Image Credit: ORTN/Reuters
