“I write this as a hostage” is the first sentence of an opinion piece written by the ousted President of Niger Republic, Mohamed Bazoum in the Washington Post.
Bazoum said his ouster was orchestrated by a military junta that is trying to overthrow the nation’s democracy, noting that he is “just one of hundreds of citizens who have been arbitrarily and illegally imprisoned”.
He said that the coup d’etat against his administration by a “faction of the military” has no justification.
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The ousted president said the coup must not be allowed to succeed or it would have “devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world”.
“Our government came to power through a democratic election in 2021.
“Any attempt to overthrow a lawful government must be opposed, and we appreciate the strong and unequivocal condemnations of this cynical effort to undermine the remarkable progress Niger has made under democracy.
“The United States, the African and European Unions, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have been loud and clear: This coup must end, and the junta must free everyone they have unlawfully arrested,” Bazoum said.
Bazoum also reeled out his government’s achievements in different facets.
“In Africa’s troubled Sahel region, Niger stands as the last bastion of respect for human rights amid the authoritarian movements that have overtaken some of our neighbors. While this coup attempt is a tragedy for Nigeriens, its success would have devastating consequences far beyond our borders.
“With an open invitation from the coup plotters and their regional allies, the entire central Sahel region could fall to Russian influence via the Wagner Group, whose brutal terrorism has been on full display in Ukraine,” he said.
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