Niger<\/a> has left the country more vulnerable to attacks from Islamist extremists, Open Doors has warned.<\/p>\nNiger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was removed by soldiers on Wednesday.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Illia Djadi, an expert with Open Doors who is originally from Niger, said he was saddened by the “unexpected development”.<\/p>\n
He said that prior to the coup, Niger had been “a safe haven, an island of peace in a very unstable region”. Now it has entered\u00a0“a new era of uncertainty as radical groups will make the most of the insecurity”.<\/p>\n
Djadi worries about a “domino effect” in the West and Central Africa region,\u00a0which has seen multiple power grabs in the last few years.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He called the coup a “setback” not only for Niger but for the entire region, and warned that any instability would play into the hands of extremists.<\/p>\n
“Even though the country is facing security challenges around its borders it’s been the only country in the area which has been able to keep a level of security. There are thousands of refugees in Niger because they feel safe there,” he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He continued, “Niger is joining this group of countries run by the military. There is a kind of domino effect. Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Chad and now Niger. Who’s next?<\/p>\n
“Any political instability can only benefit the Islamist groups. They will all try to benefit from the political instability.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.christiantoday.co.in\/files\/cache\/image\/2\/37\/23703_w_740_493.jpg\")