On Friday, July 28, France claimed that a power grab in Niger was not final and that those responsible still had time to comply with international requests that the ousted president be reinstated.
Niger President Mohamed Bazoum is being kept at the presidential palace, and it is unknown who is in command of the country after soldiers declared a coup on Wednesday evening, prompting global condemnation.
The army proclaimed its support for the soldiers who deposed President Mohamed Bazoum in a statement issued by its chief of staff on Thursday. It stated that its top priority was to keep the country from destabilizing.
France’s foreign minister spoke to media on the sidelines of French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Papua New Guinea.
According to Catherine Colonna, countries in the West African ECOWAS group are expected to meet on Sunday to discuss slapping penalties on Niger.
Niger was colonized by France until it obtained independence in 1960. France and the United States have significant military presences and bases in Niger, but there are indications that Russia is planning to establish a military and political presence in the country.
Citizens were observed burning buildings belonging to the ruling party on Thursday, with some brandishing Russian flags and pro-Russian shouts.
“If you hear me say attempted coup d’etat, it’s because we don’t consider that things are definitive,” Colonna was quoted by French media as saying.
Colonna said Macron had spoken to Bazoum on Friday and that he was in good health and should be released as a condition of restoring constitutional order.
“President Bazoum must be restored to his constitutional functions,” Colonna said.
A French diplomatic source said on Thursday that the situation remained “very confused”.