Washington: The elected president of Niger Mohamed Bazoum warned that the success of the coup attempt to oust him from power would have dire consequences for his country, Africa and the entire world.
In his first public statement since he was overthrown by military personnel on July 26, Bazoum called on the US government and the international community to help his country restore constitutional order.
Bazoum said in the statement, which was published by The Washington Post today, that he is writing this as a hostage, stressing that the coup must stop, and the military council must release all those who are illegally holding them.
President Mohamed Bazoum has been detained with his family since the day of the coup at the presidential residence in the capital, Niamey.
General Abdul Rahman Chiani declared himself as ruler of Niger after the overthrow of the elected president Bazoum, the matter that sparked Western, international and Arab reactions condemning and rejecting this step, and even threatened to use force, especially by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Although Niger has the second largest reserves of uranium metal in the world, as well as diamonds, gold and coal, however it is one of the poor countries full of political coups, since its independence in 1960.
