Liberia condemns Niger coup

The Liberian government has condemned the military takeover in Niger, describing it as “affront” to the democratic will of the people.

The Weah administration, one of few African nations to have publicly condemned the coup, also called for the immediate release of the ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and his family.

“The Government of Liberia condemns in no uncertain terms this unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional action being perpetrated by elements of the armed forces of Niger and sees it as an affront to the democratic will of the peaceful people of Niger who chose their leaders in a democratic process,” a statement issued by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism, reads.

A group of soldiers from the Presidential Guard reportedly took over the reins of government in the West African nation on Wednesday, following about two days of siege on the presidential compound.

The chief of the Presidential Guard, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, was later named as new head of state. His group has named themselves the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country.

President Bazoum, in office since April 2021, is reported to be in an undisclosed location.

Colonel-Major Abdramane has been quoted blaming the decision to seize power on “the continuous deterioration of the security situation, the bad social and economic management.”

The action of the Nigerien military has however been met with widespread condemnation, from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the African Union, the United Nations and the United States.

Former colonial master, France, has also condemned the coup. All of them called on the new military leaders to immediately release President Bazoum.

Niger, a land-locked country, had been the only ally of Western powers in a region that has seen growing hostility towards the west, as witnessed in Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also currently under military rule.

The coup in Niger brings to four the number of West African nations under military rule, after Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso. It also marks the seventh coup in the West and Central Africa region since 2020, a region plagued by armed conflicts.

The Weah administration said it aligns itself with the position of ECOWAS, AU, the United Nations, and all other governments that have condemned the army’s takeover in Niger.

“The Liberia Government has made it unequivocally clear that it stands opposed to any act of unconstitutional means of ascendency to power, while reiterating its zero tolerance to any and all forms of unconstitutional and undemocratic means of ascending to power, the statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Ledgerhood Rennie, says.