US President Joe Biden has requested for the immediate release of Niger’s elected democratic President Mohamed Bazoum and for the country’s democracy to be preserved.

According to the President Joe Biden statement on Thursday, he said “I call for President Bazoum and his family to be immediately released, and for the preservation of Niger’s hard-earned democracy.

“In this critical moment, the United States stands with the people of Niger to honor our decades-long partnership rooted in shared democratic values and support for civilian-led governance.

“The Nigerien people have the right to choose their leaders.

“They have expressed their will through free and fair elections and that must be respected.”

The 63 year old Bazoum who won the election  in 2021 free and fair but failed to meet up with the demand of the people was toppled a week ago by his own guard in a coup condemned by the United States, European nations and the United Nations.