Webinar Recap – Analyzing the July 2023 Coup in Niger: Insights from the FCIL-SIS DEI Committee’s What in the World Series

By Sue Silverman

Last Spring, the FCIL-SIS DEI Committee hosted a webinar as part of its What in the World Series, focusing on the July 2023 coup in Niger. The webinar featured Dr. Aluko Opeyemi Idowu, professor of political science at Ajayi Crowther University in Nigeria, and Stanley Macharia, law librarian at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. Dr. Idowu provided a background of the political and economic situation in Niger that culminated in the coup d’etat, while Stanley Macharia provided a comprehensive list of resources and articles to learn more about the Nigerien coup.

Made by: Philippe Verdy User:verdy_p, see also fr:Utilisateur:verdy_p.,
Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

On July 26, 2023, a military junta in Niger suspended the constitution and overthrew the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, placing him and his family under arrest. This marked the fifth coup in Niger since the country gained independence from France in 1960.

Niger faces significant challenges, with over 50% of its population living in extreme poverty, defined as surviving on less than $2.15 per day. Many people lack access to clean water, struggle with food insecurity, and most school-age children do not attend school. Despite these issues, Niger is one of the top ten uranium producers[1] and holds strategic importance for the U.S. and France in their antiterrorism efforts in West Africa. The U.S. operates several military bases in Niger, including a CIA-operated drone base, and had signed a status of forces agreement with Niger allowing U.S. troops and aircraft to operate in a non-combat capacity to support French counterterrorism efforts.

The junta attributed the coup to poor economic management and a deteriorating security situation under President Bazoum. However, Dr. Idowu argues that the coup will only exacerbate poverty and insecurity. The U.S. and France have halted financing for important infrastructure projects, and the junta’s withdrawal from ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) will hinder the free movement of people, goods, and transactions between West African nations. Moreover, the undermining of democratic institutions in Niger contributes to increased political and economic instability, which is problematic for West Africa, Africa, and the world at large.

To understand the current situation in Niger, it is crucial to consider its colonial history. France colonized Niger from 1900 to 1960 and maintained a significant military presence in the country long after Niger gained independence.[2]  Anti-French and anti-colonial sentiment fueled support for the coup in Niger and similar coups in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, which are also former French colonies.

Resources for Research:

Stanley Macharia highlighted several resources and articles for researching and learning more about the situation in Niger. For general legal research, he recommended the free and open access databases listed below in addition to subscription databases such as HeinOnline, JSTOR, and Lexis.  

1. African Court Cases  

2. Southern African Legal Information Institute

3. Directory of Open Access Journals  

4. World Legal Information Institute

To learn more specifically about the coup and history of coups in West Africa, Mr. Macharia recommended the following journal articles:

July 2023 Coup:  

Louisa Brooke Holland, UK Parliament Research Briefing No. 9855, Sept. 25, 2023, July 2023 Coup in Niger.

Mustafa Osman I. Elamin, Navigating Complexities: African Union’s Peace and Security Strategy Challenges after Niger and Gabon Coups, 10 Int’l J. of Membrane Science and Technology 2070 (2023).

Moses I.K., & Samuel I.T., Political Instability in Africa: An Account of the 2023 Niger Coup, 2 Best J. of Innovation in Sci., Res. and Dev. 109 (2023).

Svenja Raube, Anticipatory Consent to Military Intervention: Analysis in the Wake of the Coup’d’etat in Niger in 2023, 20 J. on the Use of Force and Int’l L. 201 (2023).

Coups, Colonialism & Neo-Colonialism:

Franklin Charles Graham IV, What the Nigerien Coup D’etat Means to the World, 37 Rev. of Afr. Pol. Econ. 527 (2010).

Salau A. Modibbo et al., The ECOWAS Protocol, Emerging Military Threats and the Relapse of Democracy in West Africa: Lessons from the Cote D’Ivoire and Niger Republic, 12 Int’l Aff. and Global Strategy 8 (2013).

Mannjong Callistus Acho, Examining the Reasons for the Effects of Military Coups in West Africa Since 1990: The Obstacles to Democracy and Progress, 1 Int’l J. of Humanity and Soc. Sci. 20 (2023).

Bettina Engels, Coups and Neo-colonialism, 50 Rev. of Afr. Pol. Econ. 147 (2023).

Thomas A. Kelley III, Exporting Western Law to the Developing World: The Troubling Case of Niger, 7 Global Jurist (2008).

Eki Yemisis Omorogbe, Club of Incumbents the African Union and Coups D’etat, 44 Vand. J. of Transnat’l L. 123 (2021).

F.C. Chilaka & T.O. Peter, Resurgence of Military Coups in West Africa: Implications for ECOWAS, 5 Afr. J. of Soc. Sci. and Human. Res. 52 (2022).

Christopher Zambakari, Military Coup in Niger: The Legacies of Colonialism and the U.S. War on Terror in West Africa, Afr. Report No. 14 (2023).

Magnus Lundgren, Back-door Peacekeeping: Does Participation in UN Peacekeeping Reduce Coups at Home?, 55 J. of Peace Res. 508 (2018).

The webinar provided valuable insights into the July 2023 coup in Niger, its historical context, and its potentially far-reaching consequences. By understanding the challenges faced by Niger, we can better appreciate the significance of these events for the region and the world.

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[1] Notably, Russia is now seeking to acquire control over Niger’s uranium assets. Adekunle Agbetiloye, Russia reportedly seeks control of France’s uranium assets in Niger, Bus. Insider Afr., Jun. 3, 2024,  https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/markets/russia-reportedly-seeks-control-of-frances-uranium-assets-in-niger/e0smldl

[2] French troops withdrew from Niger in December of 2023, following the coup. Reuters, Last French troops leave Niger as military cooperation officially ends, Dec. 22, 2023, https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/last-french-troops-leave-niger-military-cooperation-officially-ends-2023-12-22.

Webinar Recap: “What in the World is Happening… in the Russian War against Ukraine and Global Accountability”

By Francesco Fasano

On March 12^th, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the FCIL-SIS hosted a webinar titled “What in the World is Happening… in the Russian War against Ukraine and Global Accountability,” as part of its What in the World webinar series highlighting current global events.  Paul Moorman from USC Gould School of Law hosted the webinar. The featured speaker was Iryna Zaverukha, a legal scholar from L’viv, Ukraine, currently at USC Gould School of Law.  This was an update to last year’s webinar on the crisis in Ukraine, coming at an important and harrowing milestone in the ongoing aggression. February 24, 2022, marked the two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and March 18th, 2024, marked a decade passed since the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia.

Iryna began the webinar by contextualizing the Russian invasion against global political shifts, framing it as a fundamental clash between authoritarianism and democracy. She introduced jus ad bellum and discussed Russia’s hybrid war strategy, which includes information warfare, economic coercion, and military aggression. For example, the 2014 annexation of Crimea, which was internationally criticized, was portrayed by Russia as reunification, indicative of their strategic information manipulation and the lack of global response which later influenced the conflict in Eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region.

The discussion then shifted into the legal sparring following Crimea’s annexation. The UN Security Council was stalled by Russia’s veto, but the General Assembly passed a resolution affirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Iryna detailed Ukraine’s legal challenges against Russia’s actions, including lawsuits at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), despite Russia’s denial of involvement. On January 31, 2024, the ICJ issued a judgment addressing the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, finding Russia violated international law by banning the Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People and recognizing the independence of Donetsk and Luhansk. Iryna mentioned that the ICJ also found Russia had not breached its obligation to freeze funds meant for terrorism financing but had violated the convention by failing to investigate such financing. On racial discrimination, the ICJ recognized violations against Crimean Tatars but ultimately did not provide remedies. In response to Russia’s 2022 invasion, the ICJ ordered Russia to halt its military operations in Ukraine.

Iryna Zaverukha 2024

Responding to the 2022 invasion, the UN Security Council under Russia’s presidency could not progress due to the veto, and on February 27, 2022, the Security Council adopted resolutions that called for an emergency special session of the General Assembly to address the Ukraine crisis under the Uniting for Peace Resolution. The General Assembly during this time adopted six resolutions condemning Russia’s actions. Iryna highlighted the legal complexities in prosecuting the crime of aggression, making note of the the limitations of the International Criminal Court (ICC), as neither Russia nor Ukraine are Rome Statute parties. This led to proposals for a special tribunal and the creation of the International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression in The Hague.

Iryna Zaverukha 2024

Iryna also discussed global efforts to address war crimes and potential ecocide in Ukraine, emphasizing the use of AI in documentation. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for high-ranking Russians for crimes like the unlawful deportation of children, indicating the ongoing pursuit of justice. Last, Iryna noted U.S. support, including legislative actions extending jurisdiction over war crimes and fostering international cooperation to hold perpetrators accountable.

Iryna Zaverukha 2024

A View from the Periphery: A personal experience commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the fight against discrimination

By Juan-Andrés Fuentes

Last month, we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Honoring his legacy means peacefully confronting discrimination and speaking out against it. Remaining silent is not an option anymore. 

Photo by Lara Jameson

September 18, 2021, in Sacramento, California, was supposed to be just a regular day with family. My brother Carlos invited me to enjoy the pool of a fancy hotel located downtown with his family. 

We were having fun in the crowded pool around 2:00 pm. My brother and two little nephews started jumping into the pool as they screamed, “Cannonball”. Suddenly, a small group of four white middle-aged women raised their voices. One of them said to my brother, “I know what you mean when you say ‘cannonball’, so stop that immediately.” He did not understand what happened, and answered, “What do you mean? I am here with my kids and now you are yelling at me for no reason.” The arguing continued for two more minutes. I approached my brother and told him to forget about the incident. Then, we went back to our tent.  In the meantime, one of the women called a white private security guard to tell their version of what happened. The same security guard later approached us and we were told to leave the premises. I stayed quiet and told my brother to comply with the request. 

We asked to talk to the supervisor before leaving the hotel. My brother was confused, so I explained the situation to the supervisor. I asked him, “Why did the security personnel give full credibility to the women’s side?” “Why did the security personnel ask us to leave the property without even asking for our version of the story?” The supervisor seemed to understand our point. Therefore, he said, “I am going to ask the group of women to leave, too”, and did so. It was not the solution that we thought was the right one, but at least some kind of justice was made. 

Was the security guard racist? Was our expulsion from the club due to our skin color and/or Latino origins? I am inclined to answer yes to both questions. It would not be the first time that the color of the skin gives you the “right to hold the truth”.