Allies Of Niger’s Overthrown President Are Asking The US And Others To Save His Life

Allies of Niger’s overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum have been appealing to the United States and other allies for three weeks for help to restore the country’s president to power. According to a report by the Associated Press, friends and family of the democratically elected president are pleading with his allies to save his life.

President Mohamed Bazoum is confined with his family in an unlit basement of his presidential compound. He is cut off from resupplies of food, electricity and cooking gas by the junta that overthrew him, sources close to the president told the AP.

“They are killing him,” said Mamadou Kiari Liman-Tinguiri, Niger’s ambassador to the United States. “The plan of the head of the junta is to starve him to death.”

Last Saturday, a doctor visited the president and his family for the first time, allowed by his captors. The doctor brought food.

The United States, United Nations and others have expressed concern about Bazoum’s conditions.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken with the detained president and has also expressed concern for his and his family’s safety. The US has said it has cut aid to the government and paused military cooperation. Blinken also expressed concern that Niger’s mutinous soldiers refused to release Bazoum’s family as a goodwill gesture.