UN Aug 10 The United States Considers Mohamed Bazum the Legitimate President of Niger , US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters, answering a question about the position of the Security Council in connection with the appointment of a new government in this African country.
«We consider President Bazum to be the democratically elected President of Niger. The conditions in which he is currently being held are unacceptable. We called for his release along with the UN Secretary General and members of ECOWAS, who, as I understand it, will meet today to discuss the situation there » said Thomas-Greenfield.
Nigerian military at the end of July announced on national television the removal of President Mohamed Bazum from power. The leaders of most Western countries and the regional organization ECOWAS condemned the coup. In early August, participants in ECOWAS adopted a plan in the event of a military intervention in Niger.
Niger — a former French colony — remained one of the last allies of Western countries in the Sahel. In addition, the country has rich reserves of uranium on which France depends. According to French media, this African country accounts for 15% to 17% of the uranium used to generate electricity in France.