Allies of Niger president overthrown by military are appealing to the US and others: Save his life
President Mohamed Bazoum, leader of the last remaining Western-allied democracy across a vast stretch of Africa's Sahara and Sahel, sits confined with his family in an unlit basement of his presidential compound, cut off from resupplies of food and from electricity and cooking gas by the junta that overthrew him, Niger's ambassador to the United States told The Associated Press.
Bazoum sits in the dark basement, the ambassador said. He answers the phone when a call comes in that he knows to be his friend or someone else he wants to speak to. The beleaguered president and his ambassador, whom junta members have declared out of a job, talk one or more times a day. "Bazoum was lucky he was not taken anywhere," Saidou said. "He was left in his palace with his phone. Those who did that don't intend to hurt Bazoum."
The U.S.-backed counterterror presence is the second key reason that Niger's coup is resonating. Americans have a 1,100-strong security presence and have built bases in Niger's capital and far north into its main outposts to counter West Africa's armed jihadist groups. The Biden administration has yet to call what has happened in Niger a coup, citing laws that would obligate the U.S. to cut many of its military partnerships with the country.
The junta also told Nuland that Bazoum would die if the regional ECOWAS security bloc intervened militarily to restore democracy, U.S. officials told the AP.
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Niger's President Confined and Starved by Junta, Says AmbassadorPresident Mohamed Bazoum, leader of Niger, is confined with his family in an unlit basement, cut off from food and basic necessities by the junta that overthrew him. The ambassador to the United States warns that they are killing him and calls for international intervention.
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ECOWAS Directs Standby Force to Restore Constitutional Order in NigerThe ECOWAS bloc has directed a "standby force" to restore constitutional order in Niger after the expiration of the deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Niger's junta has threatened to kill Bazoum if neighboring countries intervene militarily. The deployment details and contributing countries are yet to be determined, but it is expected to comprise around 5,000 troops led by Nigeria. Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Benin have already expressed their participation in the military operation. Niger's stability is crucial in the fight against the jihadi insurgency in the region.
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ECOWAS Directs Standby Force to Restore Constitutional Order in NigerThe ECOWAS bloc has directed a "standby force" to restore constitutional order in Niger after the expiration of the deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Neighbouring countries, including Ivory Coast, Nigeria, and Benin, have pledged to participate in the military operation. Niger, a country plagued by a jihadi insurgency, is seen as a crucial partner in the fight against terrorism in the region.
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Nigeria Convenes Meeting to Discuss Ongoing Coup in NigerNigeria has called for a meeting to address the ongoing coup in Niger, following the military junta's overthrow of democratically elected Mohamed Bazoum. Despite previous threats of invasion from ECOWAS, leaders emphasized the need for diplomatic engagement to ensure a swift return to constitutional governance. The resolutions did not outline funding or participation details, with concerns focused on economic stability rather than military intervention.
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West African nations forming military force for possible Niger interventionWest African nations are coming together to form a military force in preparation for a possible intervention in Niger. The Nigerien junta, which has seized power, is entrenching itself and appointing its own government. ECOWAS and the United States have called for the military to step aside and reinstate the previous government, but this seems unlikely. There are concerns that if the junta cannot hold on to power, it could lead to armed conflict in a region already plagued by Islamist insurgents and extreme poverty, with devastating consequences for women and children.
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