The Pan-African movement known as Africans Rising has issued a strong condemnation of the recent military seizure of power in Niger.
Soldiers, primarily from the presidential guard, carried out a takeover on July 27, resulting in the capture of Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum. This event led to the dissolution of the constitution, the suspension of all institutions, and the closure of the country’s borders.
Since July 2, President Mohamed Bazoum has remained in the custody of the presidential guard. In response to these alarming developments, Africans Rising has called upon international and regional organizations, including the African Union and ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), to engage in constructive dialogues with all relevant stakeholders. The aim of such dialogues is to ensure the restoration of peace and stability within the nation.
Africans Rising has stressed the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions and has expressed its disagreement with the threats of military intervention that have been voiced by certain ECOWAS member states.
The movement strongly asserts that such actions would result in the unnecessary loss of innocent lives and escalate the existing challenges within the nation. Instead, they emphasize the significance of engaging in dialogue and employing diplomatic solutions that won’t worsen the predicament faced by the impoverished population.
Furthermore, the movement offers guidance to European and Western nations, urging them to refrain from meddling in the internal affairs of African countries.
They firmly reject any attempts to transform West Africa or any other African region into a battleground for proxy conflicts among competing global powers. Africans Rising staunchly upholds Africa’s sovereignty and autonomy, underscoring that the continent should not be treated as an extension of any external nation or continent.
“We must resist any moves that will make West Africa or any part of Africa the threatre of war by proxy between competing powers. It is very important for external powers from West and East to steer clear of Africa’s internal affairs and desist from making reckless statements hinting at military action. We will not tolerate any such rhetoric. Africa is not the extension of any other country or continent.”
