Mohamed Bazoum, the former president of Niger who was recently ousted in a military coup, has made his first public appearance since his detention.
He was seen meeting with Chad’s leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, in Niamey, the capital of Niger.
Déby, who himself came to power through military support after his father’s death in 2021, has taken on the role of a mediator. He also met with the leaders of the coup in an effort to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis that has gripped Niger, a country that shares its borders with Chad.
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Although specific details of the mediation efforts were not disclosed, a photo was released showing Déby sitting next to a smiling Bazoum during the meeting.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been actively involved in the situation. They gave Niger’s military a seven-day ultimatum to relinquish power and reinstate the elected president, who had been confined to the presidential palace in Niamey.
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The head of the presidential guards’ unit, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, declared himself the new ruler of Niger following the coup. In response to this, ECOWAS demanded a return to constitutional rule within seven days, warning that it would take necessary measures, possibly including the use of force, to restore order if their demands were not met.
The junta, in turn, accused the ousted government of allowing France to conduct an attack to free Bazoum. While the junta has not responded directly to the demands from ECOWAS, they vowed to defend Niger against any aggression from regional or Western powers and accused France of planning military intervention.
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One of the coup leaders, Col Amadou Abdramane, claimed that the toppled government had authorized France, Niger’s former colonial power, to attack the presidential palace in an attempt to free Bazoum. However, France, in a statement, asserted that the only recognized authority in Niger was President Bazoum’s.
In response to the coup, the junta also announced the immediate suspension of uranium and gold exports to France. Niger is the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium.
The situation has raised concerns that Niger, a significant Western ally in the fight against jihadist groups in West Africa, might shift its alliances toward Russia. Neighboring countries Burkina Faso and Mali have already distanced themselves from France and aligned more closely with Russia following their own recent coups.
Protesters outside the French embassy in Niamey expressed their support for Russia and President Putin while expressing opposition to France, setting fire to the embassy compound.
In response to the unfolding events, President Emmanuel Macron’s office issued a statement warning that France would not tolerate any attack on its interests in Niger and would respond in an “immediate and intractable manner.”
