‘No harm will come to President Mohamed Bazoum,’ says Niger’s new PM Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine

Niger’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, assured that President Mohamed Bazoum would not face harm. During an interview with the New York Times, Zeine, who had previously served as the finance minister in a prior government, conveyed that the generals responsible for the coup on July 26, which ousted Bazoum, had no intention of causing harm to him.

According to AFP, Zeine, the highest-ranking civilian appointed by Niger’s military leaders, emphasized, “Nothing will happen to him, because we don’t have a tradition of violence in Niger.”

In response to reports suggesting that the coup leaders aimed to collaborate with Russia or the Kremlin-backed mercenary group Wagner, Zeine categorically denied such intentions.

Having taken up the position of Niger’s prime minister on August 7, Zeine addressed the presence of 1,100 American soldiers and 1,500 French soldiers engaged in counter-terrorism operations, working alongside the local army against jihadist groups. He indicated that there would be a time for a comprehensive review of these military partnerships. He also lauded the White House’s approach, which he deemed “extremely reasonable,” for opting to address the Niger crisis diplomatically rather than resorting to military action.

Since the coup, President Bazoum has been confined to his residence. The New York Times reported that the coup leaders have cut off water and electricity to his house, along with issuing threats to kill him if other African countries pursue a proposal to restore him to power through military intervention.

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu issued a warning on Friday, cautioning of “grave consequences” if Niger’s military regime allows the health of the overthrown leader to deteriorate during his house arrest.

In response to inquiries about Bazoum’s well-being and whether he was alive, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, stated, “I’ve spoken to someone who speaks to him regularly. And, yes, as far as we know and we have no indication to say that he’s not alive. So as far as I know, he’s alive.”