Niger’s leaders kicked out 15 people from the European Union‘s mission to help them improve.
The Interior Minister of the country, Brig Gen Mohamed Toumba, said that the people came back to Niamey on different flights on January 24th without telling the government.
He said they were forced to leave Niger a few days later on 26 January.
Niger has been controlled by a group of military leaders since July when they took over from the elected President Mohamed Bazoum. Shortly after that, the EU said they would punish the leaders of the junta with sanctions.
Niger says that the Eucap mission, which included 120 security officers helping Niger’s forces, ended in December after more than ten years of working together.
The junta wants to have less connections with European countries and wants to start having more connections with countries like Russia and Iran.
Niger has been saying things against the Western countries. People are now wondering what will happen to the US soldiers who are at a drone base in Agadez.
Tag: President Mohamed Bazoum
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Niger evacuates employees of European Union
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Coup leaders in Niger overturn law against transporting migrants
The leaders of a coup in Niger have gotten rid of a law that made it illegal to smuggle migrants in the country.
The law allowed the authorities to stop people who illegally move migrants through the big desert in Niger to Libya and Europe.President Mohamed Bazoum, who was helping the EU stop people from crossing the Mediterranean, was removed from power in July in a coup.
Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani has announced that he is now the leader of the country.
His group in power said they are getting rid of the law because it doesn’t consider what’s best for Niger and its people.
It also said that the convictions given under the 2015 law would be “removed”.
The decision shows that the leaders in Niger’s capital Niamey want to show they are in charge of the country, even though other countries are telling them not to.
The EU stopped working together on security with the landlocked country in West Africa after the coup in the summer.
Josep Borrell, who is in charge of the EU’s foreign policy,decided in July that he also does not recognize Gen Tchiani as the leader,just like the US and France. He also said that money to help Niger with its budget would be stopped for a longtime.
It is still unknown how the European group will react to a big set back in their plan to control the number of people coming from Africa.
In 2015, over a million people who were seeking safety and a better life tried to go to Europe. This made Niger decide to make a new law, but it was later canceled.
The numbers went down a lot as a result. But the people who smuggle things didn’t like it in the years after.
In2019, Bachir Amma told the BBC that if the law changed,he would definitely go back to trafficking people. I used to make as much as $6,000 [£4,700] a week, which is more than I can make now.
He said that because the law is very strict, if someone is caught, they could go to jail for a longtime and their vehicles could be taken away.
People are worried that if the law is removed, trafficking gangs might start moving migrants to countries near Niger like Libya or Algeria, and then to Europe again.
Niger is an important part of an African area called the Sahel. The Sahel is a strip of land that goes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea. -
Niger junta claims former president attempted to flee
The military government in Niger stopped the deposed former President, Mohamed Bazoum, from escaping from custody.
According to a military spokesperson, the previous president tried to escape during the night with his family, chefs, and security guards.
They had a plan to fly in helicopters, but something stopped it, he said.
Mr Bazoum’s lawyers have asked for him to be released right away because they believe his arrest is against the law.
He and his wife and son are trapped at home because some of his guards rebelled in July.
The lawyers say that the president who was removed from power and his family can only have a doctor visit them and bring them food every other day. However, on Friday morning, even this was not permitted. They wanted evidence to show that he was still alive.
Niger is located in a part of Africa called the Sahel. The Sahel is a band of dry land that goes from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, right below the Sahara Desert. The area has a lot of problems with terrorists and is controlled by strict military governments.
According to a military spokesperson named Amadou Abdramane, there was an attempted escape that occurred at approximately 03:00 local time (02:00 Greenwich Mean Time) on Thursday. This information was shared on state television.
“The former President Mohamed Bazoum, along with his family, two cooks, and two security guards, attempted to flee from where they were being held,” he explained.
The attempt to escape was not successful and the main people involved and some of their helpers were caught by the authorities.
The complicated plan included Mr Bazoum going to a secret place on the edge of the city Niamey, according to Mr Abdramane.
The group had decided to use helicopters from another country to travel to Nigeria. The person speaking criticized Mr. Bazoum for being reckless.
We don’t know where the ex-president and the rest of the group are currently being kept. An inquiry has begun to look into whether someone tried to escape.
The military in Niger removed the president who was chosen by the people in a coup on 26 July.
This text is saying that a military takeover happened in Burkina Faso and Mali, just like what happened here. This is happening because there is a group of militant Islamists causing trouble, and Russia is getting more influential in the Sahel region through their private military group called Wagner.
In Niger, just like in Mali, the leaders have told the French soldiers stationed there to leave so they can assist in the battle against the extremists. The first group of cars from Niger reached Chad on Thursday after traveling for nine days, according to the French army.
MrBazoum did not agree to formally step down from his position.
Even though he was captured, he managed to write and publish an article in The Washington Post telling people that he was being held hostage and that the coup would have really bad effects on our country, the area we live in, and the whole world.
Shortly after Mr. Bazoum was removed from power, US President Joe Biden requested for him to be released right away and for Niger’s hard-fought democracy to be protected.
After the Ecowas group of West African countries set a deadline, the coup leaders were supposed to step down but they did not.
The promise to use the military was not kept, and the group in power still refuses to release the president.
MrBazoum’s party and his family say that he does not have access to clean water, electricity, or fresh food. -
Ecowas army leaders to meet amid prospects of invasion in Niger in Ghana
The army commanders from the area will gather in Ghana later this week, according to ECOWAS, the West African economic and political bloc.
According to reports, the meeting is to talk about a potential intervention in Niger, where a junta staged a coup last month.
For technical reasons, this meeting had already been postponed.
Currently, regional democracies are open to discussing military intervention in Niger, which critics warn might destabilise a region that is already unstable.
After a meeting between the leader of the junta, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, and a number of powerful Islamic clerics over the weekend, there was some optimism for a diplomatic settlement to the problem in Niger.
The coup’s planners changed their tone the following day, alleging that democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum had committed crimes of treason and asserting that they had sufficient evidence to bring charges against him.
The UN and ECOWAS both criticised the action.
A more stable Sahel would result from a peaceful settlement to the conflict in Niger, according to the leader of neighbouring Mali’s interim military administration. Mr. Putin stressed the importance of this to him during their phone conversation.
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Niger’s coup leaders announces intention to prosecute ousted President for ‘high treason’
Niger’s mutinous soldiers have declared their intention to charge ousted President Mohamed Bazoum with “high treason” and the act of jeopardizing state security.This announcement came shortly after the junta expressed their willingness to engage in discussions with West African countries to address the escalating regional turmoil.
If proven guilty, Bazoum could potentially be subject to the death penalty as outlined in Niger’s penal code.
Spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said on state television Sunday night that the military regime had “gathered the necessary evidence to prosecute before competent national and international authorities the ousted president and his local and foreign accomplices for high treason and for undermining the internal and external security of Niger.”
The announcement said high-ranking West African politicians and “their international mentors” have made false allegations and attempted to derail a peaceful solution to the crisis in order to justify a military intervention.It said Bazoum was being charged following his exchanges with these people.
The statement did not identify specific Western countries and did not specify a date for the trial.
Bazoum, Niger’s democratically elected president, was ousted by members of his presidential guard on July 26 and has since been under house arrest with his wife and son in the presidential compound in the capital, Niamey.Individuals within the president’s inner circle and those affiliated with his ruling party have revealed that the family’s access to electricity and water has been severed, and their food supplies are dwindling.
The junta, however, refuted these claims on Sunday night and accused West African politicians and global partners of spreading misinformation to undermine the junta’s credibility.
Mounting international pressure is urging the junta to release and reinstate President Bazoum.
Following the coup, the West African regional organization ECOWAS issued a seven-day ultimatum for the regime to restore him to power, threatening potential military intervention if the demand went unmet.
Yet, this deadline came and went without any actions from either side.
In the past week, ECOWAS authorized the deployment of a standby force, though the timing and feasibility of its entry into the nation remain uncertain.
On Monday, the African Union Peace and Security Council is convening to discuss Niger’s crisis, potentially overturning the decision if it perceives broader continental peace and security to be compromised by an intervention.
As time passes, uncertainty grows and conflicting messages accumulate. On Sunday evening, before the military accused Bazoum of treason, a member of the junta’s communication team informed journalists that talks with ECOWAS had been approved and were scheduled for the upcoming days.
Simultaneously, an Islamic scholar mediation team from neighboring Nigeria, which had met with the junta over the weekend, conveyed that the regime was receptive to dialogue with ECOWAS.
Previous ECOWAS attempts to engage with the junta encountered obstacles, with their delegations being denied entry into the country. The newfound willingness to engage in talks might be influenced by ECOWAS’ pressures, encompassing significant economic and travel sanctions that are already impacting the country’s impoverished population of approximately 25 million.
Nonetheless, Sahel experts suggest that this does not guarantee substantive progress in the dialogue.
’Let’s see what these negotiations actually look like, because it’s also in the junta’s benefit to at least entertain talks.
That doesn’t mean they’ll be serious about them,” said Aneliese Bernard, a former U.S. State Department official who specialised in African affairs and is now director of Strategic Stabilization Advisors, a risk advisory group.
But while talk of dialogue ensues, so does military mobilisation.In a memo from Senegal’s security forces dated Aug. 11, seen by The Associated Press, it ordered the “regroupment” from bases in Senegal on Monday as part of its contribution to the ECOWAS mission in Niger.
It was unclear what exactly was ordered to move, or where it was going.
In the weeks since the coup, the junta has entrenched itself in power, appointing a new government and leveraging anti-French sentiment against its former colonial ruler to shore up support among the population, creating a tense environment for locals who oppose the junta as well as many foreigners and journalists.
In a statement Sunday, the board of directors for the Press House, an independent Nigerien organisation that protects journalists, said local and international media were being threatened, and intimidated by Nigerien activists who support the junta and it was deeply concerned about the “very difficult climate” they were operating in.
Since the coup, jihadi violence is also rising. Niger was seen by Western nations as one of the last democratic countries in the Sahel region it could partner with to beat back growing jihadi violence linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
France and the United States, and other European countries have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into propping up Niger’s military. Since the coup, France and the United States have suspended military operations.
On Sunday, Nigerien security forces were ambushed by fighters believed to be with the Islamic State group, who attacked them on a dozen motorcycles, according to a security report for aid groups seen by AP.This, combined with another attack last week claimed by the al-Qaida linked group known as JNIM, signify a new phase of the conflict where groups are trying to consolidate power, and it’s largely a consequence of the suspended military operations, said Wassim Nasr, a journalist and senior research fellow at the Soufan Centre, told The Associated Press.
“This is due to the halting of cooperation and the military being busy consolidating their coup in Niamey,” he said. It’s also a result of cutting communication and dialogue attempts with some jihadi groups, which had been established under Bazoum, he said.
A former jihadi, Boubacar Moussa, told the AP that since the coup he’s received multiple phone calls from active jihadis saying they have been celebrating the chaos and greater freedom of movement.
Moussa is part of a nationwide programme that encourages jihadi fighters to defect and reintegrate into society, however, it’s unclear if that programme will continue under the military regime. As the situation evolves, he believes jihadis will take advantage of the security gap and launch new attacks.
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US supports peaceful termination of Niger coup
The US says it respects Ecowas‘ resolve to investigate all possibilities for a peaceful settlement to the crisis in Niger after the body authorised a “standby” military deployment.
After President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by a military coup on July 26, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced he was joining the Ecowas leadership in their appeal for constitutional order in Niger.
He said that the US would hold the Niger junta responsible for ensuring the safety of Mr. Bazoum, his family, and the jailed officials from his government.
The former president has been under house arrest for more than two weeks, and the US and UN have expressed worry for his health and safety.
A Sunday deadline for the junta to reinstall Mr. Bazoum or face military intervention was disregarded.
Instead, a new cabinet led by military officials has been appointed to govern the nation.
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ECOWAS directs ‘prompt activation’ of standby force in Niger
West African leaders ratcheted up their criticism of the coup leaders in Niger on Thursday, ordering the “activation” and “deployment” of a regional standby force to reestablish the rule of law in the nation.
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders called for a deployment “to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger,” according to a statement read by Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, at a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, after the one-week deadline they gave the military junta in Niger had passed.
What the “deployment” and “activation” of the force would entail was not immediately obvious. The declaration emphasised a “determination to keep all options on the table for the peaceful resolution of the crisis.”
Since late last month, when the presidential guard overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup d’état, Niger has been mired in political upheaval. Days afterwards, ECOWAS responded by imposing sanctions and giving the military junta in power one week to disband or risk military intervention.
On Sunday, August 6, that deadline passed without causing the political climate to change. The leaders of ECOWAS have stated that they would only send soldiers in a last-ditch effort to resolve the problem diplomatically.
The regional bloc will “uphold all measures and principles agreed upon by the extraordinary summit held on Niger on July 30th 2023,” whereby severe penalties were established against the military regime in Niger.
Touray also issued a warning over the repercussions for “member states who by their action directly or indirectly, hinder the peaceful resolution of the crisis.”
The president of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, revealed that all the leaders of the 15-nation ECOWAS organisation had attempted to communicate with the junta but had been warned that they would hold the leader “as a hostage” instead.
We must take action; we cannot allow this to continue, added Ouattara.
He said that he had told his country to mobilise soldiers in preparation of the ECOWAS operation, saying the military junta should fight extremists “and not try to kidnap a democratically elected president.”
Mali and Burkina Faso, led by soldiers who overthrew the government, have declared their support for the Niger junta and issued a warning that any military action will be interpreted as an act of war. Additionally, Guinea has endorsed Niger.
A military source told CNN that the Nigerian armed forces appeared to be getting ready for a potential military intervention this week. At dusk on Sunday evening, a convoy of about 40 pick-up trucks carrying troops from other parts of the nation entered the capital.
Assembling the ECOWAS forces takes time, several analysts told CNN that a military action in Niger was probably not near.
According to Murtala Abdullahi, a defence and security expert based in Abuja, the communique is “about mobilising the necessary resources should an intervention be needed, but it’s also a signal to the junta in Niger that ECOWAS is prepared to take necessary actions, including force, should talks fail.”
The bloc provided no timetable, and the current head, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, insisted that using force would only be a last choice. Abdourahamane Alkassoum, a security analyst for CNN, noted that the Nigerien military has been gaining popularity locally as ECOWAS continued to talk tough, suggesting that the news may be interpreted in Niger as being more urgent.
Another analyst recalled that ECOWAS‘s deployment to Gambia in 2017—a less challenging assignment than Niger—took 7 weeks.
According to Cameron Hudson, a senior associate at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, “the mission to Gambia was much more straightforward.” A hostage rescue of a president who is under house arrest and being exploited as a human shield by the junta would take place in Niger, not only as an intervention.
He continued, “Niger has a sizeable army that has been trained by the US and is battle-tested after years of a counterinsurgency.
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US representative undergoes ‘difficult’ conversations with the junta
Following the coup last month, a top US diplomat met in person with the leaders of the Niger’s military.
The chats had been “extremely frank and at times quite difficult,” according to acting deputy secretary of state Victoria Nuland.
President Mohamed Bazoum can yet be restored diplomatically, according to Washington, which has frozen aid payments in the meanwhile.
On Thursday, a meeting of West African nations is scheduled to discuss the problem.
The leaders of the junta in Niger were given till Sunday at 23:00 GMT to disband and reinstate the elected president. Ecowas is a commercial association of 15 West African republics.
The coup leaders blocked Niger’s airspace in response to a military threat from the bloc.
Speaking to reporters from Niamey, the capital, Ms. Nuland revealed that the US had offered its assistance after more than two hours of negotiations, “if there is a desire on the part of the people who are responsible for this to return to the constitutional order.”
She said, “I wouldn’t say that we took up that offer in any way.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the self-declared new leader of Niger, and Mr. Bazoum, according to Ms. Nuland, were not present when she met with the new military chief of staff, Brigadier General Moussa Salaou Barmou.
Despite having previously spoken over the phone with US officials, Mr. Bazoum is still being held.
Concerns about accusations that the coup leaders had requested aid from the Russian mercenary organisation Wagner in order to preserve power in the nation were also raised, according to Ms. Nuland.
“The people who have taken this action here understand very well the risks to their sovereignty when Wagner is invited in,” she remarked.
On July 26, Gen. Tchiani, a former head of Mr. Bazoum’s presidential guard, seized over. He claimed he wanted to stop “the gradual and inevitable demise” of Niger.
France, a former colonial power, was forced to issue a warning to its nationals on Monday about travelling to the Sahel region and cautioning those who are already there due to anti-French sentiment. This was because of the region’s escalating insecurity.
The foreign ministry issued a statement that said it was crucial for people to reduce their travel to a minimum, avoid large gatherings, and stay continuously informed of the situation.
Following news that the military leaders in Ecowas had created a comprehensive strategy for the use of force, the junta in Niger declared on Sunday that it had evidence indicating that “a foreign power” was getting ready to strike the nation.
Abdel-Fatau Musah, Ecowas’ commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, earlier stated that the organisation wanted “diplomacy to work” despite “all the elements” of a “eventual intervention” having been worked out.
After President Bola Tinubu wrote to the Nigerian Senate about the Ecowas resolutions imposing sanctions and the potential use of military force, the Senate spent the weekend debating the situation in Niger.
According to local media, there was fierce resistance to military intervention, particularly from senators from states close to the two countries’ extensive border.
President Tinubu has been particularly outspoken in calling for the Niger military to step down and has warned to use force if they do not; however, he requires National Assembly consent before sending in foreign troops.
Numerous thousands of the coup leaders’ supporters gathered angrily on Sunday in a stadium in the nation’s capital, Niamey, as they appear unwilling to give up control.
Under Mr. Bazoum, Niger was an important Western ally in the conflict with Islamist extremists in West Africa’s Sahel area. Niger is a significant producer of uranium, a fuel essential for nuclear power.
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President of Ghanaian community assures safety of compatriots in Niger
President of the Ghanaian community in Niger, Seidu Abudu, has reassured that his fellow Ghanaians in Niger are safe despite the ongoing military unrest in the country.
While the Ghanaian community is secure in their homes, business activities have been severely impacted due to the unfortunate events.
The military takeover in Niger has sparked concerns about the safety of Ghanaians who conduct business in the country.
In an interview with the media on August 2, 2023, Seidu Abudu confirms that around 500 to 600 Ghanaian citizens reside in Niger, and measures are being taken to protect them.
“I am in Miami right now, everything is in control. As the Ghana community president, my concern is to protect the Ghanaians in this country. We [Ghanaians] are all safe, and there is no problem with that. Right now there are no plans to evacuate Ghanaians but we will discuss it when we meet the embassy officials.
“Right now we have 500 to 600 Ghanaians who are living in Niger. As I am speaking, we are trying our best to put things down so that in case of anything we will be able to protect Ghanaians,” he noted.
Although there are currently no plans to evacuate Ghanaians, discussions with embassy officials will be held to address any future actions as necessary.
Seidu Abudu further highlights that Ghanaians engaged in business in Niger are facing significant disruptions due to the crisis and the closure of borders.
“Right now everything has come to a halt and we cannot move because all the borders have been closed. all those selling onions and cow legs are at a standstill. Latest by tomorrow we will be meeting with the Ghanaian embassy in Niger. Since Sunday’s demonstration, everything is calm,” he added.
He notes that all activities have come to a halt, impacting businesses like onion and cow leg sellers.
In the wake of the coup in Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has directed the military to restore the normal government system or face potential military intervention.
The situation has resulted in the dissolution of the country’s constitution, suspension of institutions, and closure of borders to prevent further intrusion.
Notably, President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, had been held by troops from the presidential guard early Wednesday.
US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken, has expressed unwavering support to him.
Recent coups have also affected neighboring countries like Mali and Burkina Faso, triggered by Jihadist unrest.
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West African military leaders discuss the coup in Niger
Later on Wednesday, in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, military leaders from West Africa’s regional bloc, Ecowas, will gather to discuss the military coup that occurred in Niger last week.
The bloc had already issued a warning, saying it would give Niger’s new leaders a week to restore President Mohamed Bazoum before it thought about resorting to force.
More than 250 passengers were on board the first of three French planes that were despatched to evacuate European citizens when it returned to Paris over night.
After protesters attacked the French embassy on Sunday, there has been an evacuation. Numerous Italians, as well as other Europeans and Americans, have also been evacuated by air.
The reopening of Niger’s borders with Algeria, Burkina Faso, Libya, Mali, and Chad has been proclaimed by the military government. The land border with Nigeria is still blocked, though.
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Soldiers declare coup on country’s television network in Niger
The Niger population has been informed by mutinous soldiers that a coup is being carried out to remove the president.
Today on official television, the organization—which refers to itself as the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country (CLSP)—made the news.
They asserted that the “defence and security forces” had taken over the country in West Africa as a result of “declining security and poor economic and social governance.”
After president Mohamed Bazoum and his wife were held in the presidential palace, colonel-major Amadou Abdramane advised “external partners” not to interfere.
In Niamey, people gathered outside the structure on the banks of the Niger River to demonstrate against the takeover, but they dispersed shortly.
Other forms of support for the Western-backed leader, however, appear to have persisted, as evidenced by Hassoumi Massoudou, the minister of international affairs, who thinks there is still time to undo the coup.
There was an attempted coup, but of course, we cannot accept it, he told France24. We urge all Nigerien democratic patriots to unite and say “no” to this contentious action that has the potential to reverse decades of national development.
The president should be released without conditions, Mr. Massoudou continued, adding that negotiations are still ongoing.
The Economic Community of West African States’ president of Benin, Patrice Talon, is anticipated to serve as the mediator.
This morning, Mr. Bazoum tweeted, “The hard-won achievements will be safeguarded. All Nigerians who value freedom and democracy will make sure of it.
Local observers claim that general Tchiani, the president’s intended replacement for the head of the presidential guard, is to blame for the coup.
The national army of the French-speaking nation swore allegiance to the CLSP today, citing the need to “avoid a deadly confrontation between the various forces” as justification.
Since achieving independence from France in 1960, Mr. Bazoum has served as Niger’s first democratically elected president.
The leader is supported by the West because to his actions against Islamic State and al-Qaida-linked jihadists who have taken control of nations in Africa’s Sahel region, which is a transitional area between the Sahara and the Sudanese savanna.
Niger was regarded as one of the few remaining glimmers of stability in a region of the continent infamous for its almost never-ending series of coups.
The widespread consensus is that Niger’s security situation is better than many of its neighbours, despite the fact that it has seen terrorist attacks on civilians and military personnel.
Most African nations, including several in other parts of Africa, have attempted to break their ties to the West but have instead turned to Russia.
In the border region of Mali, Yevgeny Prigozhin, a rich businessman, replaced French forces with fighters from the Russian mercenary organisation Wagner.
Wagner is reportedly gaining ground in Burkina Faso, a country that borders Niger.
A picture of Prigozhin allegedly shaking the hand of a man in a suit who is purported to be an ambassador from the Central African Republic appeared just today.
According to reports, only 17 leaders attended the Russia-Africa conference today in St. Petersburg; this was a humiliating setback for Putin, which the Kremlin attributed to pressure from the West.
The new administration in Niger will worry the West that it may lead to a turn towards Russia.
Foreign Minister Andrew Mitchell of the UK stated that his country “condemns in the strongest terms” any effort to undermine the stability and democracy of Niger.
Catherine Colonna, the foreign minister of France, declared that her nation “firmly condemns any attempt to take power by force.”
What you should know about the Niger coup:
The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country’s ‘defence and security forces’ have made an attempt to topple President Mohamed Bazoum of Niger.
In the nation’s first peaceful transition of power since it earned independence from France in 1960, he is the first democratically elected president.
He enjoys the backing of the West in the struggle against jihadists affiliated with the Islamic State and al-Qaeda.
There are worries that the new government would succumb to more extremists and follow the lead of neighbouring nations by turning to Russia.
Both demonstrations in support of the coup and those against it have taken place.
Mr. Bazoum and his ministers exhort the people of Niger to resist and “safeguard democracy.”
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Attempted coup feared in Niger after president’s detention
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.”