Nigeria Cuts Off Electricity Supply to Niger Republic Over Coup D’etat

Ilesanmi AdekanbiAugust 2, 2023

2 minutes read

Nigeria has reportedly stopped supplying electricity to Niger Republic as a form of sanction against the military coup that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum last week.

According to sources, Niger Republic has been experiencing severe power outages since Tuesday, when Nigeria cut off its power supply. Residents of the cities of Niamey, Maradi, and Zinder have been facing intermittent blackouts, with power only available for about an hour at a time before being switched off for up to five hours.

The Nigerien electricity company, Nigelec, confirmed that the power crisis was caused by Nigeria’s decision to halt its electricity exports to its northern neighbour. However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) declined to comment on the matter when contacted by Arise TV.

Nigeria’s action is seen as part of the measures taken by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to pressure the coup plotters in Niger Republic to restore democracy and constitutional order in the country.

ECOWAS had given the military junta a seven-day ultimatum to release President Bazoum from detention and reinstate him as the legitimate leader of the country. The regional body had also threatened to impose harsh sanctions on Niger Republic if the coup leaders failed to comply.

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The sanctions include closing land borders, imposing a no-fly zone, suspending financial transactions, cutting off energy supplies, and freezing the assets of Niger Republic. ECOWAS had also recognized Bazoum as the duly elected president of Niger Republic and condemned the coup as a violation of democracy and human rights.

The coup occurred on Saturday, July 26, 2023, when a group of soldiers stormed the presidential palace and arrested President Bazoum and some of his cabinet members. The coup leaders claimed that they acted to save the country from corruption, insecurity, and poverty.

President Bazoum had won the February 2023 presidential election with 55.75% of the votes, defeating former president Mahamane Ousmane, who got 44.25%. Ousmane had rejected the results and alleged fraud, leading to protests and violence in some parts of the country.

The move by Nigeria is a significant escalation in the pressure being put on the military junta in Niger Republic. The coup has been widely condemned by the international community, and ECOWAS has threatened to impose further sanctions if the coup leaders do not step down.

It remains to be seen whether the power cuts will be enough to force the military to back down. However, the move is a clear indication that Nigeria is taking the coup very seriously, and that it is willing to take tough measures to restore democracy to Niger Republic.