Former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou has officially spoken out about the coup d’état that occurred on July 26, 2023. Accused of being a shadow instigator behind this power seizure, the former president defended himself in an interview with JA (Jeune Afrique).
Being close to General Abdourahmane Tiani, is Mahamadou Issoufou a collaborator with the military who ousted Mohamed Bazoum? In public opinion, he is unequivocally accused of having a hand in what is currently unfolding in Niamey. In response to this accusation, the former president vehemently denied it. “All of this is completely false,” he retorted.
According to Mahamadou Issoufou, those who attempt to link him to the coup are involved in a political scheme to damage his relationship with the ousted president Mohamed Bazoum. “Those who spread these kinds of rumors are the very same ones who, from the very beginning, sought to divide Bazoum and me. But our friendship has always been stronger than that,” he stated.
Issoufou claims to have no interest in seeing Mohamed Bazoum’s power collapse. On the contrary, he stands to lose everything. That’s why he is calling on the coup leaders to release his successor and reinstate him in his role as the President of the Republic of Niger.
Regarding the rumor of his mediation to keep Tiani as the head of the presidential guard In the early hours of the coup, rumors circulated that Tiani rebelled because Mohamed Bazoum wanted to remove him from his position as head of the presidential guard. In negotiations, Mahamadou Issoufou was said to have advocated for the general’s retention. However, the former president vehemently denies this as well. “False. I never asked for that, let alone imposed it,” he said.
For resolving the crisis, the former Nigerien president aligns with the diplomatic approach of ECOWAS and believes that the use of force should be the “last resort.”
