Nigerian President Appeals For Help To Restore Constitutional

Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum has made an urgent plea to the US and the global community for help in restoring his country’s constitutional order, which is under threat from a military junta.

Bazoum, who was elected in 2021, has been detained by soldiers since the coup on July 26. He asserts that this coup could have dire consequences not only for Niger but also for the entire region and the world.

Bazoum highlights that Niger was a beacon of human rights and stability in an area marked by extremism and military takeovers.

He warns that criminal Russian mercenaries, like the Wagner Group, have been invited into neighboring countries, potentially enabling Russian influence and threatening regional security.

Bazoum believes that extremist groups such as Boko Haram could exploit the instability in Niger to launch attacks on neighboring nations and undermine global peace.

The Sahel region in West Africa, which already faces challenges from violent extremists and military power shifts, is in a precarious situation due to the recent coup in Niger.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has demanded the restoration of the elected government by August 6 and has hinted at possible military action against the junta.

This instability could further spread across the continent, endangering economies like Ghana and Nigeria and fueling global security concerns.

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Bazoum also emphasizes that Niger’s security situation has improved under his leadership, with partnerships that the junta opposes.

He calls for international support to reinstate the constitutional order and prevent the coup’s success, as foreign aid constitutes a significant portion of Niger’s budget.

The US, which has troops in Niger for counterterrorism efforts, has been urged by Bazoum to intervene.

In response, US President Joe Biden has called for Bazoum’s immediate release, and the Pentagon is maintaining its military engagement with non-junta forces in Niger while evacuating embassy personnel.

The situation in Niger remains tense, with regional and global implications, as it represents a key crossroads for the ongoing struggle against extremism in the Sahel.