Appointed prime minister of Niger in April 2021, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, 68, was in Rome when the military seized power in Niamey on Wednesday, July 26. Niger's president, Mohamed Bazoum, has refused to resign and is still being held in the presidential residence.

While all diplomatic attempts have been in vain, the West African bloc's military announced on Friday, August 4, that it had defined the outlines of a "possible military intervention, including the resources required, but also how and when we will deploy the force." A few hours before the end of the ultimatum set by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for Bazoum to be reinstated, Le Monde met Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou in Paris.

I remain optimistic because I know how much Nigeriens value democracy and their country's stability. A positive outcome is still possible. As you know, in any negotiation, anything can happen before the deadline. The last few moments are crucial.

Of course, since Mohamed Bazoum is still the president of Niger.

I spoke with him on the phone on Friday. He's doing well, although he's still being held hostage by the junta. His treatment is far from satisfactory, as he is being forced into giving in. He is isolated and few people have access to him. The electricity and water have been cut off. It's a serious and worrying situation.

He was elected by an overwhelming majority [Bazoum obtained 55.75% of the votes in the second round of the February 2021 presidential election]. He has a mandate from the people of Niger. Is there any reason for him to step down? I can't think of any. What keeps him going is the knowledge that he has the support of a large part of the population. It's not because he's being held by an individual who was supposed to ensure his security [the leader of the coup, Abdourahamane Tiani, headed the Presidential Guard] that he should give up.

Firstly, Niamey is not Niger. Secondly, protests can be manipulated. Those who came out to express their support for the head of state on the first day were repressed. All the conditions are in place to prevent them from protesting. If you read what's being said on social media, where the people express themselves more freely, it's clear that the president is widely supported. The majority of Niger's population is hostile to the putschists.

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