Bazoum's stark reality

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On 26 July 2023, a coup d'état occurred in Niger, in which the country's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum and presidential guard commander General Abdourahamane Tchiani proclaimed himself the leader of a new military junta.

Revealed through a series of text messages to a close confidant, Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum disclosed harrowing conditions under the military junta that recently seized control. Held in isolation, with basic supplies dwindling, President Bazoum depicts a scene of grim resilience.

Bazoum, Niger's democratically elected president in 2021, has been "deprived of all human contact" since last Friday. Cut off from basic provisions, he reports consuming dry rice and pasta after perishable items turned inedible and enduring a week without electricity – a deprivation felt by many Nigeriens after Nigeria, a primary energy supplier, retaliated against the coup by halting power.

While international diplomats, including acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, arrived in Niamey seeking dialogue with coup leaders, direct communication with the detained president remains constrained. However, Bazoum did manage a telephonic conversation with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, as affirmed by the State Department.

Describing his situation as "catastrophic", Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, the prime minister under Bazoum, shared on French TV the president's continued positive spirit. However, hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough appear bleak. An intended discussion between coup leaders and global representatives, including from the UN and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), was abruptly cancelled. Though the junta cites "threatened aggression against Niger" as a rationale, Mahamadou stresses the junta's inclination for continued dialogue with ECOWAS.

ECOWAS, standing firm in their demand for the junta's withdrawal and the restoration of President Bazoum's government, has not excluded the potential for forceful intervention. Anticipating foreign intervention, the Nigerien military recently mobilized additional forces into the capital. Concurrently, local reports highlight city-wide departures and increasing stockpiles of essential goods among residents.

Internal resistance to the junta is also gaining momentum. Rhissa Ag Boula, a former rebel leader and minister under Bazoum, announced the creation of the Resistance Council for the Republic (CRR). This council is urging the military to arrest the junta leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, and warns of necessary action against "rogue and irresponsible soldiers."

In an impassioned statement, President Bazoum asserted, "Niger is under attack," condemning the military's actions while highlighting Niger's democratic progress and international partnerships. Drawing attention to Niger's strategic importance in West Africa and the detrimental effects of military coups on neighbouring nations, Bazoum underscored Niger's role as a "bastion of respect for human rights."



Amid the turmoil, Niger's military leadership, in a statement, announced its backing of the coup, with the army's chief of staff Abdou Sidikou Issa emphasizing preserving the nation's stability.

While the future remains uncertain, international stakeholders and the Nigerien populace stand vigilant, awaiting a resolution honing the nation's democratic foundations and enduring resilience.

#Staytunedformore

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