VOA慢速英语2023--African Leadership Groups Concerned about Military Takeover in Niger

African Leadership Groups Concerned about Military Takeover in Niger

Defense¹ leaders from the West African group of nations known as ECOWAS are meeting to discuss the political crisis in Niger.

The leaders are concerned. The military group that ousted² Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum in July did not answer an ECOWAS request to stand down or face an invasion.

ECOWAS has 15 member countries and is based in Abuja, Nigeria.

Outside security experts said ECOWAS has not been able to prevent leadership takeovers in other West African nations. That includes the recent government overthrows³ in Burkina Faso and Mali.

This time, however, the group organized a "standby force" that is ready to move on the Nigerien capital of Niamey if Bazoum is not put back in place. In addition, the group put financial and travel restrictions⁴ on Niger.

So far, nothing has changed. Defense experts say ECOWAS is running out of ways to put pressure on the group that took power in Niger.

Andrew Lebovich studies northern Africa for the Clingendael Institute, a research group based in the Netherlands.

He said: "An intervention⁵ could backfire and damage (ECOWAS) in numerous ways. While a failure to extract major concessions⁶ from (the soldiers in control) could weaken the organization..."

Another group of African states, the African Union, met earlier this week to discuss whether it would support a military move by ECOWAS. The African Union includes 55 nations in Africa. The union could prevent a military action by ECOWAS if it felt that the move would destabilize Niger and nearby countries.

The status of who leads Niger is important to western nations, including France and the United States. Both countries have soldiers in Niger. They have been working to train and support local soldiers in their fights against Islamic militant⁷ groups. Niger had been one of the last countries in the area with a democratic government.

Since the military group pushed out Bazoum and took control in Niger, the U.S. and France are no longer supporting the Nigerien soldiers.

This makes Niger open to outside attacks. The Associated Press reports that 17 Nigerien soldiers were killed and over 20 were injured in an attack Tuesday in the Tillaberi area in the country's northwest.

In Niamey, locals are concerned both about a military move by ECOWAS and the effects of financial and travel restrictions. Some of the electric power – most of which comes from Nigeria – has been cut off. Restaurant owners say they cannot keep food cold. The ECOWAS restrictions include limits on who can enter and leave Niger. They are also preventing aid workers from coming in with food and supplies.

Louise Aubin is the coordinator⁸ in Niger for the United Nations. She is concerned that food and medical supplies inside Niger could run out because of the border restrictions. The U.N. and other aid groups said 4 million of the 25 million people in Niger needed assistance before the military takeover. They expect that number to increase.

Words in This Story

standby –adj. ready or available in emergencies or on short notice

backfire –v. to have the opposite result of what was desired or expected

extract –v. to get

concessions –n. (usually pl.) things that are given up in an effort to gain something else

destabilize –v. to make something less secure, steady or predictable

run out –v. (phrasal) to become used up with nothing left

1 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

2 ousted   

驱逐( oust的过去式和过去分词 )； 革职； 罢黜； 剥夺

参考例句：

• He was ousted as chairman. 他的主席职务被革除了。
• He may be ousted by a military takeover. 他可能在一场军事接管中被赶下台。

3 overthrows   

n.推翻，终止，结束( overthrow的名词复数 )v.打倒，推翻( overthrow的第三人称单数 )；使终止

参考例句：

• Newly-elected French President Charles Louis Bonaparte overthrows the Second Republic. 1851年，新选出来的法国总统查尔斯·路易斯·波拿巴推翻了第二次共和。 来自互联网
• With unexpected innovative elements, the Next Step overthrows your knowledge for percussion! 意想不到的创新元素，颠覆你对打击乐的印象。 来自互联网

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 intervention   

n.介入，干涉，干预

参考例句：

• The government's intervention in this dispute will not help.政府对这场争论的干预不会起作用。
• Many people felt he would be hostile to the idea of foreign intervention.许多人觉得他会反对外来干预。

6 concessions   

n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权

参考例句：

• The firm will be forced to make concessions if it wants to avoid a strike. 要想避免罢工，公司将不得不作出一些让步。
• The concessions did little to placate the students. 让步根本未能平息学生的愤怒。

7 militant   

adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals.一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。
• He is a militant in the movement.他在那次运动中是个激进人物。

8 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？