France’s foreign minister, Catherine Colonna on Friday, said Niger’s President, Mohamed Bazoum is in “good health” even though he has been in detention since Wednesday by coup plotters.
Colonna said President Emmanuel Macron of France spoke to Bazoum early on Friday, saying “He is reachable, he also said that he is in good health.”
Recall that members of the elite Presidential Guard had detained President Bazoum inside his palace in the capital, Niamey, early on Wednesday.
The military, through its Spokesman, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, on Wednesday night, announced on state television that it had overthrown the government of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Niger is one of the most unstable nations in the world, experiencing four coups since independence from France in 1960 as well as numerous other attempts at power.
The Coup leaders in Niger revealed on Thursday they had won broad army support and called for calm, but former colonial power France said it did not consider the apparent putsch “final”.
However, Colonna said there were “ways out” for coup plotters who chose to heed global condemnation of President Mohamed Bazoum’s ouster.
Bazoum has been confined to his residence since Wednesday by his presidential guard.
He stood his ground as denunciations of the putsch swelled from African and international organisations and allies Germany and the United States, as well as France.
“The hard-won (democratic) gains will be safeguarded,” Bazoum said on Twitter.
“If you hear me talking about an attempted coup, it’s because we don’t consider things final,” she said. “There is still a way out if those responsible listen to the international community.”
According to her, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) would hold a summit “probably on Sunday”, where “possible sanctions could be decided”.
She added that France would support sanctions.
France, which has 1,500 soldiers in Niger, previously called for “the restoration of the integrity of Nigerien democratic institutions”.
But armed forces chief General Abdou Sidikou Issa has 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 said in a statement.
In other news, the Super Falcons of Nigeria on Thursday morning humbled Australia 3-2 in a Group B game at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
The Falcons came from a goal down to beat the co-host nation.
