WASHINGTON: Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum has asked Washington and international community to help “restore constitutional order” in the country after last week’s military coup, US media reported on Friday.
In an article in the Washington Post, President Bazoum stated that he was writing “as a captive”. As per western media reports, political unrest has erupted in the African nation since President Bazoum was deposed.
Niger: President Bazoum Calls on Washington for Help After Military Coup
Niger is an important uranium producer and also lies on a key migration way to North Africa and the Mediterranean, BBC reported.
President Bazoum, “Fighting for our shared values including democracy and the rule of law, is the only way to make maintainable growth against terrorism and poverty and,”. He further wrote that the people of Nigeria will never forget ”your support at this key moment in our history.”
Earlier, US President Joe Biden also called for immediate release of Niger’s elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
Meanwhile, Niger’s junta said it would respond immediately to any “aggression” against it by West African nations, three days before the expiry of an ultimatum to reinstate order given by ECOWAS.
Read Also: Nigerian President Seeks Amicable Solution to Niger Crisis
“Any aggression against Niger will see an immediate response from the Niger forces on one of (the bloc’s) members, with the exception of suspended friendly nations,” declared one of the putschists in a statement, referring to neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso.
The World Bank said on Wednesday it was “alarmed” by attempts to overthrow an elected government in Niger, saying that it has stopped payments for all operations there until further notice.
In a statement, the World Bank said that private sector partnerships “will continue with caution,”. It added that it will “closely monitor the entire situation” after a military coup shook the fragile country.
