African Heads of State leading Africa’s Peace Mission to Ukraine and Russia have condemned the coup d’état in the Republic of Niger and called on the military establishment to ensure the safety of President Mohamed Bazoum.
This is according to a joint statement signed by President Azali Assoumani (Comoros), Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egypt), Macky Sall (Senegal), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa) and Yoweri Museveni (Uganda).
“We further call for the return of the military forces to their barracks and to ensure the speedy restoration of the democratic order in Niger. We reject unlawful seizure of power by any group or individual as it undermines democracy, creates instability and reverses development in our continent,” African leaders stated.
Coup leaders in Niger claimed to overthrow the elected government and called for calm on Thursday after over 1,000 young demonstrators ransacked the ruling party headquarters in Niamey capital and set fire to vehicles in the car park.
On Thursday, Armed forces chief Abdou Sidikou Issa swung his weight behind the putschists.
“The military command… has decided to subscribe to the declaration made by the Defence and Security Forces… in order to avoid a deadly confrontation,” he is quoted by AFP as saying.
President Mohamed Bazoum has been confined at his residence since Wednesday by his own presidential guard.
Bazoum had defiantly stood his ground as the condemnation of the putsch swelled from African and international organisations and allies France, Germany and the United States.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in a statement “demanded the immediate release of President Mohamed Bazoum who remains the legitimate and legal President of Niger”.
“We support the position of ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations in their call for all parties to return to constitutional rule urgently and to refrain from further interference with the democratically elected government of the Republic of Niger,” African leaders said in a statement issued in the Russian city of Saint Petersburg.
“We make this call as we gather in St. Petersburg to forge closer ties with the Russian Federation and continue with the peace mission we started last month.”
They promised to meet with President Vladimir Putin to further discuss actions that can be taken on confidence-building measures that will set both Russia and Ukraine on a path to peace.
“Our commitment to the end of this conflict, which has claimed lives and increased our continent’s food insecurity does not blind us to equally devastating developments within Africa.”