The military junta in Niger Republic has declared that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum would not be released as freeing him will be harmful to Nigeriens.
This was disclosed in an interview granted by junta leader and former presidential guards unit’s commander, Geneneral Abdourahmane Tchiani, on Tuesday.
“We would never release Bazoum. Setting Bazoum free is akin to stabbing ourselves in the stomach which would do harm to Nigeriens,” General Tchiani partly said.
The regional West African bloc Ecowas suspended the country and two other Sahel countries, Burkina Faso and Mali, and threatened military action to put an end to the coup, but it has not yet acted on its threat.
The coup leaders have warned that they will defend themselves against any intervention.
The three Sahel countries recently affirmed that they would not rejoin the bloc after withdrawing their membership in a joint statement, citing threat as reason.
“Just because we are members of the bloc, food and medicine supplies were cut off. Power was also cut off, and our funds have been frozen. So, we consulted our friends in the Sahel on exiting the bloc to better the lives of our citizens,” the statement by General Tchiani read.
“That we should withdraw from the bloc that is answerable to the foreign countries. So, we have withdrawn our membership from the bloc and would never return to the union.”
He further added that the country is not worried about the consequences that may arise in terms of security, trade, and socio-economic activities following their withdrawal from ECOWAS.
“Now that the world is a global village, is the world within ECOWAS? So, God will feed every human He created.”
On July 26, 2023, President Bazoum was overthrown, with the military accusing his administration of high treason and declaring the end of civilian rule in Niger Republic.
