Blinken calls for President’s Release
United Nations, United States – United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “strongly condemns the unconstitutional change in government” in Niger, his spokesman said Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) after an apparent coup in the West African nation.
Guterres is “deeply disturbed” by the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by members of the Presidential Guard, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.
“The Secretary-General calls for an immediate end to all actions undermining democratic principles in Niger,” Dujarric added.
Meanwhile, in Wellington, New Zealand, visiting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called for the “immediate release” of Niger’s leader Mohamed Bazoum on Thursday, as soldiers surrounded the presidential palace in Niamey and claimed to have taken power.
“I spoke with President Bazoum earlier this morning and made clear that the United States resolutely supports him as the democratically elected president of Niger. We call for his immediate release,” Blinken said on a visit to New Zealand.
“We condemn any efforts to seize power by force. We’re actively engaged with the Niger government, but also with partners in the region and around the world, and will continue to do so until the situation is resolved appropriately and peacefully.”
Blinken refused to be drawn on whether the military revolt was a coup, a designation that could forestall US cooperation with Nigerian authorities, including on counterinsurgency and counter-terrorism.
“Whether this constitutes a coup technically or not I can’t say, that’s for the lawyers to say. But what it clearly constitutes is an effort to seize power by force and to disrupt the constitution,” he said.
Blinken added that the United States was warning citizens in Niger “limit any unnecessary movements”.
Earlier, Blinken warned soldiers who claimed to have overthrown the Niger government that US economic aid to the country was contingent on “democratic governance.”
Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president’s residence earlier and claimed to have “put an end to the regime.”
In Niamey, Niger, the soldiers said “all institutions” in the country would be suspended, borders were closed and a curfew imposed “until further notice” from 10 pm to 5 am.
“We, the defense and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime” of President Bazoum, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane said in a televised address late Wednesday.
“This follows the continued deterioration of the security situation, poor economic and social governance,” he added, surrounded by nine other uniformed soldiers.
Regional and global leaders have called for the release of Bazoum, who entered office two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful transition of power since independence from France in 1960.
The president of neighboring Benin, Patrice Talon, will head to Niamey for mediation efforts, the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said.
One of a dwindling group of pro-Western leaders in the Sahel, Bazoum was elected in April 2021, taking the helm of a country burdened by poverty and jihadist insurgencies.
In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president’s office said “elements of the Presidential Guard had a fit of temper… (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard.”
“The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition,” the presidency said.
“The president and his family are well,” it added.
Hours after his detention, Bazoum’s supporters had tried to approach the official complex, but were dispersed by members of the Presidential Guard who fired warning shots, an AFP reporter saw.
One person was hurt, but it was not immediately clear if he was injured by a bullet or from falling as the crowd scattered.
The parties of Niger’s ruling coalition in Niamey denounced “a suicidal and anti-republican madness” in a statement, saying that “certain elements of the presidential guard sequestered the President” and his family, as well as the interior minister.
Condemnation also poured in from beyond the nation’s borders.
ECOWAS and the African Union both decried what they called an “attempted coup d’etat”.
ECOWAS called for Bazoum’s immediate and unconditional release and warned all those involved would be held responsible for his safety.
The European Union said it “associates itself” with the ECOWAS statement and attacked “any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability” of Niger.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken to Bazoum to offer Washington’s support, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he “strongly condemns the unconstitutional change in government” in Niger.
The foreign minister of Niger’s former colonial power France, Catherine Colonna, condemned “all attempts to take power by force”.
President Talon was expected to arrive in Niamey on Thursday, after a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu said Talon would mediate with both the Presidential Guard and Bazoum, with a view to finding an agreement. AFP