Issoufou Mohammed condemns Niger coup and calls for national reconciliation

Issoufou Mohammed, former President of the Republic of Niger, sent a letter to the members of the Mo Ibrahim Prize Committee in response to their letter of July 26, 2024. The letter is full of political reflections and positions, reiterating the importance he attaches to democracy and the rule of law, while expressing concern about the current situation in Niger.

In his speech, Issoufou Mohamed strongly condemned the coup d’état of July 26, 2023, stressing his firm opposition to any seizure of power by force. He recalled that such attempts to destabilize the country were not without precedent in the country’s recent history, and that he himself had escaped similar attempts several times during his tenure. “This instability reminds me of the myth of Sisyphus,” he declared, referring to the repetition of coups d’état that has plagued Niger, and called for a structural reflection to address this recurring problem.

The former president also expressed dismay at the imprisonment of several politicians, including his son, former oil minister Sani Issoufou Mahamadou, who has been held in a prison far from the capital for 12 months. He took the opportunity to reiterate his commitment to a peaceful end to the crisis, aimed at restoring democratic order and releasing political prisoners, including ousted President Mohamed Bazoum.

Issoufou Mohammed stressed the need to learn from the past and avoid repeating past mistakes, calling for national unity and lasting reconciliation. He spoke of the need for every Nigerian to work for the country’s prosperity and reject violence and external intervention as a means of resolving the crisis. “For a stable, peaceful and prosperous Niger, I will continue to contribute to any solution that can reconcile all Nigeriens,” he said.

Finally, he expressed reservations about the military intervention decided by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), stressing the destructive consequences of such an action, similar to those observed in Libya after the international military intervention in 2011. Confident in the possibility of resolving the crisis through dialogue, Issoufou Mahamat reiterated his commitment to the path of peace and reconciliation.

This clear and firm stance taken by former President Mahamadou reaffirms his central role in defending democratic principles in Niger, while calling for deliberate and coordinated action to break the current impasse.

Boube G. (Nigerien expatriate)