Renversé depuis le 26 juillet par un coup d'État militaire, le président nigérien est depuis retenu dans sa résidence présidentielle à Niamey. Nous sommes - depuis Abidjan - avec Maître Florence Loan-Messan, l'avocate du Comité du président Mohamed Bazoum, Bâtonnière-dauphin de Côte d'Ivoire.

I write this as a hostage. Niger is under attack from a military junta that is trying to overthrow our democracy, and I am just one of hundreds of citizens who have been arbitrarily and illegally imprisoned. This coup, launched against my government by a faction in the military on July 26, has no justification whatsoever. If it succeeds, it will have devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world.

Members of Niger’s presidential guard detained democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, declaring that they have seized control of the government and suspended the constitution of this country of 25 million people.