Niger: Shehu Sani Lists 5 Factors Responsible For Coups In West Africa

Former Kaduna Central lawmaker, Shehu Sani has identified five major reasons military coups are happening in West Africa.

Speaking on Saturday amidst the most recent coup in Niger Republic, Sani said the five factors are responsible for the collapse of democratic governments in West Africa.

He blamed the political class, economic challenges, security challenges, expanding influence of Russia and China as well as failure to sanction those who carry out the coups.

According to the former lawmaker via his Twitter account, “I think there are FIVE factors that are responsible for the collapse of democratic Governments in West Africa and now giving rise to military coups.”

1. Strangulation of Democracy by the political class and shrinking civil space.
2. Economic challenges that lead to widespread poverty and hunger.
3. Security challenges; the spread of terror groups and overreliance on the military.
4. Expanding presence of Russian and Chinese influence in the economic, security and political sphere.
5. Failure of sanctions to have any meaningful impact on coupists.

Niger Republic Youths Beat Up Politicians

Videos showing some angry citizens of Niger Republic beating up a female politician and another male politician have surfaced on social media and have gone viral.

The videos are making rounds on the internet at a time the country is going through a coup in which some members of the nation’s military force decided to take over power and force the President, Mohamed Bazoum to step down from power and vacate office.

As seen in the video shared by popular security analyst and counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama via his Twitter handle, the youths attacked a female politician and beat her up.

Luckily for her, however, some other youths intervened and rescued her from the mob before much harm could be done to her.

Also, another unidentified male politician was similarly attacked.