Leaders from around the world have denounced the coup in Niger, with a collective demand that democracy be restored after elected President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted, as there are concerns over his safety as he is held captive.
"Spoke with Nigerien President Bazoum and yesterday with former President Issoufou to reiterate our unflagging support for Bazoum's continued leadership," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on the X platform. "The actions of a few men threaten hundreds of millions of dollars of U.S. assistance that benefit the Nigerien people."
According to a report by the BBC, the international community has come forward to condemn the actions of the military and advocate for the immediate restoration of democracy in the West African nation following the coup. Bazoum was ousted from power July 26 in what has been described as a grave threat to the democratic principles the country had previously embraced.
The BBC reported the coup was announced on national television by Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, who stood alongside nine other uniformed soldiers, asserting their decision to put an end to the existing regime. The military cited reasons for their intervention, including the deteriorating security situation and concerns over poor economic and social governance.
They announced the suspension of all state institutions and imposed a night curfew from 22:00 to 05:00 local time until further notice. The military also closed all land and air borders, urging external partners not to interfere, according to BBC News.
According to the European Union External Action, the EU has stood firm in its stance against the coup. Josep Borrell, high representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and vice president of the European Commission, said, "The European Union does not recognize and will not recognize the authorities resulting from the putsch in Niger. President Bazoum was democratically elected; he is and remains the only legitimate president of Niger."
According to the Associated Press, Bazoum's election in 2021 was seen as a milestone for the nation, marking the first peaceful and democratic transfer of power since Niger gained independence from France. The coup represents a significant setback to the progress made toward democratic governance in the country.
Concerns about Bazoum's well-being have arisen as the situation has unfolded, according to Aljazeera. Reports say he is possibly being held captive in the presidential palace by the coup plotters. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and calling for his immediate release.
In response to the coup, Blinken also had a conversation with former Issoufou, urging him to work toward resolving the crisis in favor of the democratically elected government. The goal is for a peaceful resolution to the crisis and restore constitutional order in Niger, according to a release by the U.S. State Department.
