Niger Coup: Overthrown Prez. Bazoum left with only dry rice and pasta as meals
The military junta that overthrew Niger's democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, claimed they were keeping him in isolation and making him eat only dry rice and pasta despite international criticism.
Bazoum said in a series of texts to a friend that since Friday, he has been "deprived of all human contact" and that no one has given him food or medicine, the CNN reported.
The deposed president gave his approval for Bazoum to transmit his messages to CNN.
Bazoum claimed that, like many Nigeriens, he has been without electricity for a week. Nigeria supplies a large portion of the electricity used in neighboring Niger, but cut off the supply in response to the coup.
Since all of the perishable food that was given to him went bad, he is now only eating dry spaghetti and rice.
Bazoum has maintained communication with the outside world despite his seclusion. Despite being turned down the chance to talk with acting US Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland on her trip to Niamey, the capital of Niger, on Monday, Bazoum spoke over the phone with Secretary of State Antony Blinken the following day, according to the State Department.
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