Live Crisis in Niger: Paris calls for “return to constitutional order”

Reactions follow. After the European Union this morning, the African Union expressed “its serious concerns” over the worsening detention conditions of President Mohamed Bassum. He has been detained along with his family since the July 26 military coup. “This treatment of a democratically elected president (…) is unacceptable”.

Several calls for demonstrations were launched this Friday by various organizations that support the ruling military. Already on Thursday afternoon, hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the capital, chanting slogans against France and the United States, considered “Niger’s enemies”, before dispersing in the evening.

Mohamed Bassum, a relative of the ousted president, told AFP that the rulers had branded a “threat” to attack him in the event of military intervention by ECOWAS. He also confirms that the conditions of detention of the Nigerian president and his family are “extremely difficult”, but that he is “fine”.

asked about RFI, Doctor Arthur Banga in the History of International Relations, judges that ECOWAS is “determined to reinstate President Bassum in power”. But diplomacy is still the preferred path. “Resistance to armed intervention” exists in many countries on the African continent, researcher says.

Foreign Affairs Minister Catherine Colonna has again called for the release of Nigerian President Mohamed Bassum, as well as a “return to constitutional order”.

After the US, the European Union expressed “deep concern” about the “deteriorating conditions of detention” in which President Mohamed Bassum and his family have been “without food, electricity and medical care for several days”, Joseph Borrell advances. , Head of European Diplomacy.

as We were talking about it this morning, the U.S. has announced that it will hold the ousters responsible if anything happens to President Mohamed Bassum, whom it is detaining. The warning comes as concerns grow over the conditions in which the ousted president and his family are being held in detention. According to several media outlets, he will be short of food, without medicine and water.

Burkina Faso’s interim government (which quickly showed its support for the junta) suspended the country’s most-listened-to Radio Omega “until further notice” after the broadcast of an interview on Thursday. Insulting comments against the new Nigerian authorities”. Guest is a spokesman for a recently formed movement in Niger that wants to restore President Mohamed Bassum, who was ousted in a July 26 coup.

Niger’s new government, installed by the ruling military, was led by a civilian prime minister, economist Ali Mahaman Lamin Sain. He was already a member of the government as Finance Minister from 2003 to 2010. He has 20 ministers under his charge. The Generals of the National Council for the Defense of the Fatherland (the CNSP that seized power), General Salifo Modi and General Mohamed Doomba, belong to the Defense and Interior Divisions respectively.

He recalled RFI, Niami will pay the new fee this Friday as part of his debt repayment. For this, Niger is largely dependent on international aid. However, many have been cut off since the regime as part of international sanctions. This raises fears of default. In particular, three other repayments are scheduled for September.

The coup risks creating two distinct camps: one led by the Economic Community of West African States, and the other formed by a cozy alliance between the coup forces of several African countries, including Mali and Burkina Faso. Here are the forces involved.

ECOWAS standby forces are made up of police, military and civilians from member states. Alassane Ouattara notes that Côte d’Ivoire will provide a “battalion” of 850 to 1,100 men, along with Nigeria and Benin in particular, and that “other countries” will join them to restore order.

But “the monarchists can decide to leave tomorrow morning, there will be no military intervention, everything is up to them,” the Ivorian president insists: “We are determined to reinstate President Bassoum in his functions” .

The Economic Community of West African Nations has given the green light to a military operation in Niger, initially citing the deployment of its “standby force”. But how is she? Does ECOWAS have the military means for such an intervention? Answers in our article.

Anthony Blinken warns coup fighters: He vows to hold the US accountable for the health of President Mohamed Bassum, who has been detained since the coup.

The head of US diplomacy, Anthony Blinken, also declares that the US supports the “leadership and mission of ECOWAS” to “return to constitutional order”. Washington appreciates “the determination of ECOWAS to explore all options for a peaceful solution to the crisis,” he continued.

France gives “its full support to all decisions” of ECOWAS, Quai d’Orsay assures. Paris reiterates its “strong condemnation of the ongoing coup attempt in Niger and the kidnapping of President (Mohammed) Bassum and his family.”

At 10pm, back in Abidjan after the ECOWAS meeting, Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara said West African leaders had given the green light for a military operation to “start as soon as possible”. Other conferences should be held to finalize matters.

Negotiations with the military regime in Niger must be “the bedrock of our approach,” Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, who holds the rotating presidency of ECOWAS, said in Abuja on Thursday. “All relevant parties, including the conspirators, should be engaged in serious discussions to convince them to relinquish power and restore President Bazoom,” he continued.

Niger, rocked by coup d’état, lives at a defining moment. After an ultimatum with no effect, ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States), puts pressure on the rulers. Thursday announced that it would order the deployment of its military forces after a new emergency summit. But it continues to encourage dialogue and avoid conflict in an increasingly volatile region.

Welcome to this live broadcast dedicated to news of the crisis in Niger, at the hands of the dictators who seized power and detained President Mohamed Bassum.