"Niger's Former Rebel Sparks Internal Resistance with Anti-Coup Movement"

Former rebel leader Rhissa Ag Boula has launched the Council of Resistance for the Republic (CRR) in Niger, opposing the military junta that seized power in a coup on July 26. The movement aims to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and is the first sign of internal resistance to army rule in the strategically important Sahel country. The CRR supports the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and any international efforts to end military rule in Niger. The challenge from Ag Boula raises concerns of internal conflict and could potentially disrupt the junta's control, particularly if it gains support from influential Tuaregs. The coup has led to border and airspace closures, hampering humanitarian aid in one of the world's poorest countries.