A former Nigerien minister of foreign affairs, Hassumi Massoudu, spoke to a Spanish newspaper and confirmed that he went underground in Nigeria on the day of the coup. In a candid account, he described mounting concerns about the trajectory of events and the risks facing government figures who were aligned with the constitutional order as the political landscape shifted rapidly.
Massoudu recounted that when he perceived the faction led by the rebels was determined to consolidate power, he chose to relocate out of sight. He stated that urgent external action felt necessary, and he traveled to Nigeria during the early days of August to participate in discussions around a sanctions framework approved at the ECOWAS summit. Since then, his movements have been restricted to a period of withdrawal from the capital and quieter engagement with regional actors. This plan, he noted, was driven by the belief that outside pressure could influence the unfolding crisis in Niger.
According to the former minister, the overthrow of President Bazum stemmed from the perceived personal interests of the head of the presidential guard, General Abdurrahman Tchiani, who soon emerged as the chair of the CNSP, the military council governing the country. The account suggests that internal power calculations and personal grievances played a significant role in the swift seizure of authority, complicating attempts to forecast the outcome of the upheaval.
Massoudu argued that Tchiani appeared ready to take bold steps, including measures that would reshape the state’s leadership structure. He also indicated that concerns about potential removal from power, financial strains, and a sense of personal insecurity within the ruling circle had influenced how decisions were made in the immediate aftermath of the coup. These insights point to a complex web of incentives and worries that extended beyond public policy debates to the private calculations of key figures on the ground.
In describing the environment surrounding the government and security apparatus at the time, Massoudu noted that the ousted president Mohamed Bazum remained with his wife and son during the crisis. He mentioned that a health scare had emerged while in detention at the family home, highlighting how personal hardships intersected with political upheaval and the intense pressures placed on those caught in the center of the storm. The interview provides a rare glimpse into the human dimensions of a political rupture, illustrating how forceful political change can resonate on a personal level for those directly involved.
Looking at the broader regional context, the former minister reflected on how shifts in leadership in Africa often reverberate beyond borders. He suggested that international reactions, the balance of power among neighboring states, and the evolving role of external partners were shaping the trajectory of Niger in the days and weeks following the coup. The discussion underscored the delicate diplomacy required to manage a transition that could redefine regional alignments and security arrangements, while also keeping in view the internal dynamics that continue to drive developments inside Niger. This perspective emphasizes that political change in one country can influence regional stability and strategic calculations across West Africa and beyond, a reality frequently observed in comparative political studies of the region. The conversation also underscores the enduring uncertainty that attends sudden shifts of power, where motives, alliances, and external responses can change with new information and evolving circumstances, making the path forward difficult to predict with confidence. (Source: Spanish newspaper Pais)