The Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism, which was in power, stated that the military council arrested the party's president, Fumakoji Jadoo, Oil Minister Sani Mahamadu, and Mining Minister Yakuba Osini Hadizatu today, Monday. The African Union, the United Nations, the European Union, and other powers condemned the military council's ousting of the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, last week. This marks the seventh time the military has seized power in West and Central Africa in less than three years. The coup has raised concerns about the security of the surrounding Sahel region. The United States, France—the former colonial power—and other Western countries have forces in Niger and are cooperating with the government to combat armed factions linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Niger's status as the seventh-largest producer of uranium in the world has heightened Western fears about the coup, as uranium is a radioactive mineral used in nuclear energy and cancer treatment.
The Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism stated that "military council forces have arrested the mining minister of the ousted government, the ruling party president, and Oil Minister Sani Mahamadu, who is the son of former president Mahamadou Issoufou." The party added that "the interior minister, transportation minister, and one deputy are already detained." In a statement, it noted that "the arrests confirm the repressive and dictatorial nature of the coup leaders, and called on citizens to unite to protect democracy."
The arrests were announced just after the arrival of Mahamat Idriss Déby, the president of Chad, in Niger to try to mediate between the coup leaders and the ousted government. He shared pictures on social media showing him with Bazoum and separately with the coup leader, Abdrahmane Tiani, who the military council has declared as the head of state.
For its part, a senior U.S. official at the State Department stated on Monday that "there is little chance of reversing the military coup that occurred in Niger last week, and that the U.S. diplomatic and military posture there will depend on whether the democratically elected government will return to power in the coming days." The United States condemned the military council's ousting of elected president Mohamed Bazoum, marking the seventh military coup in less than three years in West and Central Africa, raising security concerns for the surrounding Sahel region.
The official pointed out that "Washington aims to support the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its efforts to reverse the power takeover." He told reporters: "We believe there is a limited chance of reversing it," adding that "our position will depend on what happens in the coming days and weeks concerning our ability to help the region and the Nigeriens revert from this path."
