Mohamed Sahnoun, the Special Advisor to Niger’s detained President Mohamed Bazoum, confirmed on Saturday that Bazoum has never tendered his resignation and has no plans to do so. The President was seized by military forces following a coup d’état on July 26th.
Sahnoun told the media, “We will not succumb to the demands of the coup leaders. A military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is very much on the table if they refuse to negotiate.” He stressed that any resignation by Bazoum would not be accepted under any circumstances, a point recently reinforced by ECOWAS in their latest meeting.
According to the advisor, ECOWAS has explored multiple avenues to find a solution to the crisis but finds the military’s demands “non-negotiable.” He stated, “The military council cannot prevent ECOWAS from intervening militarily if a solution to the crisis isn’t reached.”
Sahnoun further differentiated Niger from neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, noting, “We didn’t have a political crisis that justified a coup, unlike our neighbors. The coup leaders are merely interested in seizing power.”
Regarding international intervention, Sahnoun dismissed the possibility of Russia stepping in to assist the military council, should ECOWAS undertake military action in Niger. He stated, “The coup leaders are exploiting children to raise Russian flags. We have no issues with the Russian state.”
The advisor also disclosed that President Bazoum is in stable health condition, despite the absence of water and electricity where he is detained. He noted that the popularity of the coup leaders is waning due to the unavailability of basic resources like food and medicine.
In a recent internal document, the Military Council in Niger has instructed the armed forces to remain on high alert, signaling increased threat levels. Security sources have verified the document issued by the Chief of Staff on Friday.
The document reads that this state of maximum alert will allow the forces to respond appropriately in case of an attack. It adds, “The threats of aggression on national territory have become increasingly palpable.”
As of now, ECOWAS is still attempting to negotiate with the coup leaders. They’ve announced their willingness to deploy forces to restore constitutional order should diplomatic efforts fail. In support of the coup leaders, Burkina Faso and Mali deployed fighter jets to Niger last Friday.
Military officers overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26th, challenging calls from the United Nations, ECOWAS, and Western countries like France and the United States for his reinstatement. The developments have prompted ECOWAS to issue orders for the formation of a reserve force.
