When is a coup not a coup? The AU's dilemma

The African Union (AU) faces a dilemma in Niger, where a military 'counter-coup' has overthrown President Tandja, who had previously used unconstitutional means to bypass term limits. While the AU has broadened its definition of 'unconstitutional change of government' to include incumbent leaders manipulating constitutions, it must now decide how to respond to a textbook military coup. The author argues that the AU must condemn the coup to avoid political instability, despite the potential for the military to restore constitutional rule. The situation is complicated by Niger's mineral wealth—specifically uranium, gold, and oil—and the strategic interests of foreign powers like France, which relies on Niger for uranium imports for its nuclear energy sector.

• The African Union has expanded the definition of 'unconstitutional change of government' to encompass incumbent leaders who use unconstitutional methods, such as suspending a democratic constitution, to circumvent presidential term limits.
• The AU's Peace and Security Council utilizes a graduated scale of responses to coups based on context, ranging from mild condemnation and suspension of AU membership to the imposition of economic sanctions, combined with regional mediation to restore constitutional democracy.
• Niger's status as one of the world's poorest countries with significant deposits of uranium, gold, and oil makes political office a primary route to economic power, increasing the risk of instability.
• Foreign strategic interests, specifically France's reliance on uranium imports from Niger for its nuclear energy interests, influence the political landscape and the AU's need to adhere to its own protocols.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2010). When is a coup not a coup? The AU's dilemma. https://saiia.org.za/research/when-is-a-coup-not-a-coup-the-aus-dilemma/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. When is a coup not a coup? The AU's dilemma. 2010. https://saiia.org.za/research/when-is-a-coup-not-a-coup-the-aus-dilemma/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=When is a coup not a coup? The AU's dilemma |date=23 February 2010 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/when-is-a-coup-not-a-coup-the-aus-dilemma/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2010when, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{When is a coup not a coup? The AU's dilemma}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2010}, month = feb, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/when-is-a-coup-not-a-coup-the-aus-dilemma/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }