In order to reverse a military coup, Niger‘s first democratically elected president has appealed for international assistance.
Undoing the coup, said to Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, is essential to protect democracy in West Africa.
Mr. Mahamadou is currently in France because, when borders closed as a result of the coup, he was abroad for international meetings.
He claimed that protecting countries further south “against the spread of terrorism” and supporting democracy in the area should be anchored by Niger.
Because Niger is a vulnerable nation, Mr. Mahamadou called the coup a calamity. Nearly four million individuals already reside in this nation with food insecurity.
A 300,000-strong number of internally displaced individuals live in this nation.
Last week, coup leaders announced the removal of democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on live television.
According to the constitution of Niger, the president has a wide range of authorities, including the choice of the prime minister.
On Sunday, the ECOWAS regional organisation in West Africa issued travel and economic restrictions against Niger and threatened to use force if the coup leaders did not restore Mr. Bazoum within a week.
Spain, Italy, and France all declared citizen evacuations on Tuesday.
Mr. Mahamadou pointed out that since 2020, there have been three comparable instances in Guinea, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
The whole of West Africa’s democracy is in jeopardy if a fourth coup is verified, he continued, adding that there is no reason why a fifth coup shouldn’t occur, followed by a sixth.
For the ECOWAS nations, survival is at stake. It’s a credibility issue for the entire world community. Niger must continue to be a democratic nation.
One of the West’s final democratic allies in the fight against Islamic radicals in West Africa was his administration.
In terms of security, not just for the rest of Africa but also for the rest of the world, Niger is a crucial nation, And Mr. Mahamadou.
Because “the armed forces are preoccupied with issues other than ensuring the country’s security, you can understand that this will enable the jihadists to move forward on the ground,” he cautioned that Niger’s current instability “could encourage the further development of insecurity linked to jihadists.”
The president “is definitely a hostage,” according to Mr. Mahamadou, who added that he is in contact with Mr. Bazoum and that the president is “in good spirits” and “ready to face the situation.”
Because they claim to be “patriots,” he thought the coup leaders would accept the ECOWAS request to reinstate Mr. Bazoum rather than risk military involvement.