Niger coup: President removed from power – Soldiers
President Bazoum of Niger has been removed from power, according to a group of soldiers who appeared on the west African nation’s national television channel.
Reading out a statement hours after the nation’s leader was held in the presidential palace, the soldiers said: “The country’s borders are closed and a nationwide curfew declared.”
Soldiers from the presidential guard had blockaded the presidential palace of the jihadist-wracked country this morning, security sources said.
Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, “conveyed the unwavering support of the United States” in a call on Wednesday with Bazoum. He also “underscored that the strong US economic and security partnership with Niger depends on the continuation of democratic governance and respect for the rule of law and human rights”.
A Reuters reporter saw military vehicles blocking the entrance to the presidential palace. Access to ministries next to the palace is also believed to have been blocked.
Members of the guard sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices, and “refused to release the president” after talks broke down, the sources said, adding: “The army has given them an ultimatum.”
With Bazoum, 63, believed to be held inside his palace in the capital, Niamey, the president’s official account tweeted that “elements of the presidential guard (PG) had a fit of temper . . . [and] tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard”.
“The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not come to their senses,” the presidency said. “The president and his family are well.” Later the tweet announcing the move was deleted.
Bazoum and his family are well, the president’s official account said on Twitter
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), west Africa’s main regional and economic bloc, said it was concerned about an attempted coup and called on the plotters to free Bazoum. The African Union also condemned what it called a coup attempt and urged the “felon” soldiers involved to return to barracks immediately.
President Tinubu of Nigeria said that President Talon of Benin was travelling to Niger to mediate. Tinubu, who as the new head of Ecowas has pushed for a return to democracy in west African countries now run by juntas, said Talon was on his way to Niger after the “military misbehaviour” there.
António Guterres, the UN secretary-general, condemned any effort to seize power by force in Niger and called on all actors to exercise restraint. The US, France and EU also condemned the power grab.
There have been suggestions that Bazoum was considering replacing General Omar Tchiani, head of the presidential guard, which may have rankled some members.
Niger, a vast, impoverished country containing much of the Sahara, has a population of about 27 million and a history of coups. It hosts 1,500 French troops as the new centre of a decade-long counterinsurgency against al-Qaeda-linked jihadists who have spilt out of the Sahel. President Macron pulled the soldiers out of the neighbouring Mali last year following a breakdown in relations with the Malian junta after it enlisted the help of Wagner mercenaries.
Coups have hit Mali as well as Burkina Faso and Chad in recent years, but analysts suggest that a coup in Niger could be catastrophic as the country borders an unstable Libya and Nigeria, from which Islamist militant Boko Haram fighters cross.
In 2021, two days before Bazoum’s inauguration, soldiers attempted to overthrow his predecessor, Mahamadou Issoufou, 71.
