After President Mohamed Bazoum was allegedly taken hostage by members of the presidential guard on Wednesday, leading to protests in the capital, men in military fatigues claimed to have seized power in Niger.
We have decided to put an end to the government that you know, a man described as Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane declared in a video communiqué, flanked by what appeared to be several troops. He cited the country’s deteriorating security situation and “poor economic and social governance.”
He also appeared to be reading from a book on the table before him when he added that national institutions had been suspended and the country’s land borders had been temporarily closed.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) stated that there had been a “attempt to seize power by force” in the West African nation earlier in the day.
The group also urged the coup plotters to release the democratically elected President of the Republic immediately and without conditions. “ECOWAS condemns in the clearest terms the attempt to grab power by force.
A source close to the president told CNN that the circumstance sparked lengthy conversations between the nation’s Presidential Guard and other officials. What was being discussed specifically was not made clear by the source.
The Nigerian presidential complex was closed off on Wednesday, and early that morning, members of the Presidential Guard began to gather in front of the Presidential Palace heavily armed. Later in the day, about twenty soldiers of the Presidential Guard were spotted outside the palace compound.
According to a statement posted on the presidency’s social media accounts, President Mohamed Bazoum is “doing well” and the army and national guard are “ready to attack the elements of the GP [Presidential Guard] involved in this fit of anger if they do not return to their better senses.”
Along with Bazoum, the interior minister of the nation, Hamadou Souley, was also taken into custody by the presidential guard on Wednesday morning local time. They are both currently being held in the presidential palace in Niamey.
Later, hundreds of Bazoum-supporting demonstrators gathered in Niamey, the nation’s capital. When protestors were about 300 metres (984 ft) from the presidential palace, presidential guards fired “warning shots” to stop their advance.
Later on Wednesday, up to 400 demonstrators could be seen, some carrying Bazoum memorabilia and placards that said, “No to the destabilisation of the republic’s institutions.”
In a tweet posted on Wednesday, the Nigeran presidential office stated that “spontaneous protests by democracy advocates broke out all over the (capital) city of Niamey, (around) the country, and in front of Niger’s embassies abroad after the announcement this morning that President (Mohamed) Bazoum is being held in his palace by his guard.”
According to Reuters and Agence France-Presse (AFP), Bazoum is being held by the presidential guards within the palace, which has been closed off by military vehicles since Wednesday morning. Security sources were reported by Reuters, and people close to Bazoum were cited by AFP.
There are currently no officials inside, a member of the National Guard who is manning the facility for both ministries informed CNN.
There have been rumours of political unrest in the nation’s capital, Niamey, according to the US Embassy in Niger.
The city is peaceful at this moment. Until further notice, we urge everyone to keep movements to a minimum and to avoid travelling along Rue de la Republique, the embassy added.
The rest of the city appears to be tranquil, according to CCTV from the capital Niamey.
Bola Tinubu, the president of Nigeria and the current ECOWAS chair, also released a statement denouncing “unpleasant developments” in Niger.
In his statement, Tinubu stated that they are “closely monitoring the situation and developments.”
All parties involved in the Republic of Niger should be aware that the ECOWAS leadership and all supporters of democracy around the world will not put up with any circumstance that weakens the nation’s democratically elected administration.
The statement read, “The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the effective exercise of legitimate authority in Niger or any other part of West Africa.”
In 2021, Bazoum won the election. In the landlocked West African nation, coup attempts are frequent. Since gaining independence from France in 1960, Niger has been the victim of four coups.
International leaders called for peace despite the apparent unrest in response to the situation in Niger, which was the subject of widespread censure.
The UN “stands by the Government and the people of Niger,” a spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres declared on Wednesday.
The Niger situation is being closely monitored by the Secretary-General. In a statement, Stéphane Dujarric stated, “He condemns in the greatest terms any attempt to oust democratic governance, peace, and stability in Niger.
Josep Borrell, the head of foreign strategy for the EU, strongly denounced “any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability of Niger.”
The foreign ministry of France expressed worry and stated that it “is closely monitoring the development of the situation” in Niger.
Officials from the White House also stated that they “strongly condemn any attempt to detain or obstruct the democratically elected government of Niger from carrying out its duties.”
The alliance between Washington and the West African nation, according to US national security adviser Jake Sullivan, depends on its “continued commitment to democratic standards.”