Mohamed Bazoum, Niger’s ousted president, has been seen for the first time since the military detained him in a coup last week as he met with Chad’s leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, in Niger’s capital, Niamey.
Déby, who also met the coup leaders, is spearheading mediation efforts after the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gave Niger’s military seven days to give up power. Mr Déby said his mediation effort was aimed at finding a “peaceful solution to the crisis which is shaking” Niger, which borders Chad. He did not give details, but his office released a photo of him sitting next to a smiling Mr Bazoum.
Deby, who was also put in power by the army after his father was killed fighting rebel forces in 2021, was sent to Niger by leaders of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS. On Sunday, they gave the junta a week to reinstate the elected president, who had been confined to the presidential palace in Niamey.
Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guards’ unit, declared himself Niger’s new ruler on Friday. In response to this, ECOWAS gave the junta a 7-day limit to step down from power and restore constitutional rule. The committee then said that they will “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order” if its demands were not met, adding that “such measures may include the use of force.”
The junta then accused the ousted government of authorising France to carry out an attack to try to free Mr Bazoum. While the junta has not commented on the demands, it has vowed to defend Niger from any “aggression” by regional or Western powers, while accusing former colonial power, France, of planning military intervention.
On Monday, Col Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup leaders, said the toppled government had authorised France, Niger’s former colonial power, to attack the presidential palace to try to free Mr Bazoum. While France did not confirm or deny the claim. In a recently released statement, the French foreign ministry said the only authority it recognised in Niger was President Bazoum’s.
The junta also announced that it was suspending the export of uranium and gold to France with immediate effect, as Niger is the world’s seventh largest producer of Uranium.
The coup has prompted concern that Niger, a key Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in West Africa, could pivot towards Russia. Neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali have both moved away from France, and towards Russia, after staging their own coups in recent years.
On Sunday, protesters outside the French embassy in Niamey chanted “Long live Russia”, “Long live Putin” and “Down with France”, whilst setting fire to the walls of the embassy compound.
A statement from President Emmanuel Macron’s office then said France would not tolerate any attack on its interests in Niger, and would respond in an “immediate and intractable manner.”
Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi
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