Russia implicated in military coup in Niger - President's Office reaction
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian President's Office (Photo: Getty Images)
According to the statement made by Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian President's Office, on Twitter, in the aftermath of the military coup in Nigeria, accusations have emerged, pointing fingers at Russia. The country is alleged to have a global script for provoking disruptions in world security.
"It has become evident that Russia is behind the so-called "military coup" in Nigeria. This is a typical Russian tactic: to divert attention, seize the opportunity, and escalate the conflict," Podolyak wrote.
Podolyak further claimed that the support expressed by rebels from pro-Russian groups in Mali and Burkina Faso, notably with the involvement of the Wagner Group, only reinforces the belief that "Russia has a larger plan to provoke instability and undermine global security".
"It is time to draw the right conclusion, asserting that only by eliminating the Putin regime and steering Russia towards political transformation can the world ensure the inviolability of rules and stability," the advisor emphasized.
The Coup in Niger
On July 26, members of the presidential guard blocked access to the residence of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum. Media outlets reported it as an attempted coup d'état.
The soldiers warned against any foreign interference and declared their commitment to respect Bazoum's life and health. Several countries, including Ukraine, promptly condemned the coup in Nigeria.
Later, the military in Nigeria announced that they had overthrown the government of President Mohamed Bazoum, closed the borders, and imposed a curfew.
On Friday, July 28, the head of the presidential guard, Abdurrahman (Omar) Chiani, declared himself the new leader of Niger. He was previously associated with a coup attempt against the former president in 2015.
Guinea became the first country to express support for the rebels who took power in Niger. Meanwhile, the governments of Burkina Faso and Mali announced their readiness to fight on the side of the Nigerien insurgents.
