Rhissa Ag Boula, a former rebel leader and politician in Niger, launched a resistance movement on Wednesday known as the Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR). This new group seeks to resist the junta that assumed power following the July 26 coup, with the overall aim of restoring former President Mohamed Bazoum to power.
This move by CRR represents the first coordinated domestic effort to resist the junta’s takeover in Niger. The former rebel leader, Ag Boula, announced that, alongside their personal efforts, the CRR would also be supporting international moves aimed at the reinstallation of Bazoum and his administration. This information surfaces concurrently with the West African states in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) publicly declaring they are considering all options, use of force included, to reinstate Bazoum as president.
ECOWAS previously, on July 30, imposed sanctions on the junta leaders and demanded the reinstation of Bazoum within a week. The deadline passed without satisfaction, leaving the international community eager for news of further action.
Reported harsh living conditions in detention for Bazoum and his family drew international focus on the junta. Bazoum’s party, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, stated to Reuters that the former president and his family were held in “cruel” and “inhumane” conditions, without running water, electricity, and without access to fresh goods or doctors, in direct infringement of Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The coup has faced broad international criticism, with leaders worldwide calling for Bazoum’s return. Leonardo Santos Simão, the UN Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, is even remaining in nearby Abuja, Nigeria, to continue supporting negotiations for a return of power to Bazoum’s administration.
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