Biden calls for immediate release of Niger's president amid apparent coup

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday called for the immediate release of Niger's democratically elected head-of-state amid an apparent coup there.

Biden released the statement on the 63rd anniversary of Niger's independence from its former colonial ruler, warning that the West African nation is now "facing a grave challenge to its 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," Biden said. "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."