“Niger is the last bastion for respect for rights”, warns President-elect Mohamed Bazoum

2023-08-04 06:50:31

The coup in Niger could have consequences “devastating” for the world and bring the Sahel region under “influence” of Russia, via the mercenaries of the Wagner group, writes the elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a column published Thursday, August 3 in the Washington Post. He called “the United States government and the entire international community to help restore constitutional order”.

Sequestered since his government was overthrown on July 26 by the putschists, he warns: “I am writing this as a hostage (…) In the troubled Sahel region, in the midst of authoritarian movements that have taken hold among some of our neighbours, Niger is the last bastion for the respect of rights”. Follow our live.

Arrival of ECOWAS in Niamey. A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) arrived Thursday evening in Niamey to meet the putschists. ECOWAS has imposed heavy sanctions on Niger and has given the perpetrators of the coup until Sunday to restore Mohamed Bazoum to his post, under penalty of using “strength”.

The putschists warn ECOWAS. The military authors of a coup d’etat in Niger promised Thursday evening a “immediate response” To “any aggression” from an ECOWAS country, excluding Mali and Burkina Faso, members “amis” suspended, also led by putschists. They also denounced several military agreements concluded with France, such as the “parking” of the French detachment and the “Status” soldiers present in the context of the anti-jihadist fight.

Putschists withdraw Niger’s ambassadors from four countries. While pressure to restore constitutional order is increasing internationally, the putschists announced Thursday evening to put “fin” to “functions” ambassadors of Niger in France, the United States, Nigeria and Togo.

Ambassador in Washington fears collapse. The junta must “return to reason”, warned the Niger ambassador in Washington on Thursday. “If Niger collapses, it is first of all the whole Sahel that collapses, which will be destabilized”he underlined, adding with fear that “Wagner and the jihadists will control Africa from the coast to the Mediterranean”.