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US President Joe Biden has called for the immediate release of Niger's elected President Mohamed Bazoum
Biden also called for the preservation of the country's democracy following a coup in the Niger Republic.
In a statement on Thursday, Biden condemned the coup that ousted Bazoum a week ago and said that the United States stands with the people of Niger to honour their decades-long partnership rooted in shared democratic values and support for civilian-led governance.
"The Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders," Biden said. "They have expressed their will through free and fair elections — and that must be respected."
Bazoum was feted in 2021 after winning elections that ushered in Niger's first peaceful transition of power. He took the helm of a country burdened by four previous coups since independence from France in 1960.
The clock is ticking on a demand made Sunday by the West African regional bloc ECOWAS for the coup leaders to restore Bazoum to power within a week or face the possible “last resort” of military intervention.
"I call for President Bazoum and his family to be immediately released, and for the preservation of Niger's hard-earned democracy," Biden said.
"In this critical moment, the United States stands with the people of Niger to honour our decades-long partnership rooted in shared democratic values and support for civilian-led governance."
The statement was released on the 63rd anniversary of Niger's independence.
