The deposed president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, has called on the United States and the entire international community to help restore constitutional order in the country, BBC writes.
In an opinion piece published by the Washington Post, Bazoum stated that he was writing “as a hostage”.
After the overthrow of the president on the 26th of July, riots broke out in the West African country. On Thursday, the 3rd of August, the leaders of the coup announced that they were recalling Niger’s ambassadors from France, the US, Nigeria, and Togo.
Hours before the public announcement, Niger’s ambassador to the US told the AFP news agency that the military junta “should come to its senses” and realize that their plan will fail.
In the article, Bazoum warned that
the coup, if successful, would leave a devastating impact on the country, the region and the whole world.
He pointed out that the fight for common values is the only way to sustainably fight against poverty and terrorism.
Bazoum also warned about the connection of the coup leaders with the Russian mercenaries, the Wagner Group, which has already gained a sufficiently wide influence in the neighboring countries. “The entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine,” wrote Bazoum.
Many supporters of the coup have chanted pro-Russian slogans in the protests,
and flags of the aggressor country can be seen on the streets, and protesters are dressed in its flag colors.
On the 3rd of August, thousands of people took to the streets of Niger’s capital to support the coup. Other West African countries were criticized for the financial and trade sanctions they imposed.
According to the information available to the United States, there is no indication that the Wagner Group was involved in the coup. The coup has been condemned by the international community, including the US, the European Union, and the UN.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken contacted Bazoum by phone and after the call informed that the US is determined to restore the democratically elected government of Niger.
Bazoum is the first democratically elected president since the country regained its independence
in the 1960s. At the end of July, he was arrested by his own security guards. Bazoum’s government has been threatened by Islamic extremist groups that are rampant in the Sahara desert and the Sahel region. Under pressure from Islamists, Niger’s neighbors Mali and Burkina Faso, also former French colonies, have been seized by the military, saying such leadership would allow them to better fight jihadists.
Bazoom is a firm partner of the West in the fight against Islamist groups and also established economic cooperation.
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