Niger coup: High treason charges against former President Bazoum, according to the ruling junta

I am a hostage as I type this. I am only one of the hundreds of civilians who have been unjustly and unlawfully detained in Niger as a military coup tries to destroy our democratic government. There is absolutely no justification for this coup, which a section of the military conducted against my government on July 26. If it is successful, it will have disastrous repercussions for our nation, our area, and the entire world.

In 2021, democratic elections brought our current administration to power. We appreciate the strong and unequivocal condemnations of this unscrupulous attempt to undermine the wonderful progress Niger has made under democracy. Any attempt to topple a constitutional administration must be rejected. The African and European Unions, the United States, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have all made it clear that this coup must cease and that the junta must release everyone it has wrongfully detained.

Falsely claiming to have taken action to ensure Niger's security, the coup plotters. They claim that our fight against Islamic terrorists is failing and that our nation has suffered because of my economic and social policies, which include alliances with the US and EU.

In fact, the very partnerships the junta dislikes have helped Niger's security situation improve substantially. Forty per cent of our country's budget is made up of foreign aid, but if the coup is successful, no aid will be given.

There haven't been many attacks in the southern part of the country, where Boko Haram is a threat, for nearly two years, and refugees are now going back to their own villages. Our partners, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, are refocusing their efforts from humanitarian aid to development projects like constructing sustainable energy, enhancing agricultural productivity, and training the next generation of Nigerien leaders as a testament to this reality.

Since I became a power in 2021, there haven't been any significant attacks in the north or west of the nation. Niger is now safer than it has been in the previous 15 years thanks to the assistance of our allies and training provided by allies, including the Indiana National Guard.

Notably, the security situation in Niger is much better than that of our neighbours Burkina Faso and Mali, whose governments, both of which were imposed by military coups, support the illegitimate overthrow. Instead of resolving security concerns by enhancing their own capabilities, they hire Wagner Group-type criminal Russian mercenaries at the price of the rights and dignity of their own people.

The year 2022 marked the first in Niger without a single school day being missed due to teacher or student strikes. No significant industry experienced a strike, and my administration signed historic labour agreements with unions to improve working conditions nationwide.

The United States' secretary of state at the time, Antony Blinken, referred to Niger as "a model of resilience, a model of democracy, and a model of cooperation."

We must not let this momentum slip away. Our ECOWAS neighbours have declared extraordinary penalties, such as a restriction on oil exports and imports as well as a suspension of cross-border financial operations, in response to the threat that the probable fall of Niger poses to the region.

These actions already show what the future will be like under an autocratic regime that lacks a clear vision and trustworthy friends. Between Sunday and Tuesday, the price of rice increased by 40%, and certain neighbourhoods started to experience shortages of supplies, including electricity.

The authoritarian tendencies that have taken over some of our neighbours in the unstable Sahel region of Africa have left Niger as the last stronghold of respect for human rights. Although this coup attempt is tragic for the people of Nigeria, its success would have far-reaching effects.

The entire central Sahel region might be subject to Russian control through the Wagner Group, whose savage barbarism has been on full display in Ukraine, with an open invitation from the coup plotters and their local sympathisers.

The instability of Niger will undoubtedly be used by Boko Haram and other terrorist groups, who will use it as a base to launch attacks against our neighbours and threaten global peace, safety, and freedom. They will intensify their efforts to indoctrinate our young people with a terrible anti-Western ideology, turning them against the very allies who are assisting us in creating a more promising future.

I appeal to the US administration and the entire international community to assist us in restoring our constitutional order at this critical time. The only way to effectively combat poverty and terrorism is to fight for our shared ideals, such as democratic pluralism and respect for the law. The Nigerien people will always remember your assistance during this crucial period in the historical past.