Germany has denounced the attempted coup in Niger and affirmed its support for the democratically elected President, Mohammed Bazoum. Both Berlin and the European Union have demanded his immediate release, as Niger's army has officially endorsed the coup.
The German Foreign Ministry condemned the attempted overthrow in Niger following the army's declaration of seizing power. The ministry has called for the immediate release of President Mohammed Bazoum. "We are following the events in Niger with great concern... We condemn the attempt by sections of the army to overthrow the constitutional democratic regime in Niger and we call for the immediate release of the democratically elected President (Mohammed) Bazoum," a ministry spokesperson said in Berlin on Thursday. The spokesperson emphasized that violence is not a means to pursue political or personal interests.
The spokesperson urged German citizens in Niger to adhere to the safety and travel guidelines set by the German Foreign Ministry and to register themselves on the ministry's crisis readiness list.
On its part, the European Union demanded the "immediate" release of the Nigerien president on Thursday. Nabila Massrali, spokesperson for the EU diplomatic service, said the "Union demands the immediate release of President Bazoum, his family, and his entourage," insisting that member states are prepared to participate in efforts "to find a peaceful solution to this attempted coup." She added, "Niger is a key partner for the European Union in the Sahel region, and destabilizing it serves no one's interests in the country, the region, or beyond."
Earlier this year, the European Union launched a "military partnership mission" in Niger to support the country in its fight against the Islamic State group. In response to a question about the future of this mission, Massrali considered it too early to discuss but noted that "we will of course assess all this in light of the developments in the country."
Coup soldiers announced the overthrow of the democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum on national television on Wednesday evening. Bazoum has been in power since 2021. The head of Niger's armed forces, General Abdu Siddiq Isa, affirmed on Thursday his "support for the declaration" of the coup soldiers "to avoid a bloody confrontation between different forces."
Colonel Amadou Abdul Rahman had announced that the army in Niger had suspended all institutions and closed all borders in the West African state. On Wednesday morning, the Presidential Guard, an elite unit of the army, detained Mohammed Bazoum in his palace in Niamey and blocked access to the palace and several ministries.
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