Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum yesterday defiantly vowed to protect “hard-won” democratic gains after he was detained by elite troops who declared they had taken power in the troubled west African nation.
Bazoum was confined in Niamey on Wednesday by members of his presidential guard, who hours later announced that “all institutions” in the country would be suspended, the borders closed and a nighttime curfew imposed.
Bazoum has stood his ground, as African and international organizations and Niger’s Western allies condemned the coup.
Photo: AFP
“The hard-won gains will be safeguarded,” Bazoum wrote on the X messaging platform. “All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom would want this.”
Nigerien Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassoumi Massoudou said the country’s “legal and legitimate power” was the one exercised by its elected president.
He told France24 TV channel that Bazoum was “in good health.”
There had been a “coup bid,” but “the whole of the army was not involved,” hesaid.
“We ask all the fractious soldiers to return to their ranks,” he said. “Everything can be achieved through dialogue, but the institutions of the republic must function.”
Benin President Patrice Talon was yesterday headed to Niamey for mediation efforts, the head of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said.
The landlocked Sahel state is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world.
It has experienced four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, as well as numerous other attempts — including two previously against Bazoum.
Bazoum, 63, is one of a dwindling group of pro-Western leaders in the Sahel, where a rampaging Islamic insurgency has triggered coups against elected presidents in Mali and Burkina Faso.
Their juntas, taking a nationalist stance, have forced out French troops and in the case of Mali have woven a close alliance with Russia.
Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices in the capital, Niamey, on Wednesday morning, and after talks broke down “refused to release the president,” a presidential source said.
Bazoum’s supporters hours later tried to approach the official complex, but were dispersed by members of the Presidential Guard who fired warning shots, an Agence France-Presse reporter saw.
One person was hurt, but it was not immediately clear if he was injured by a bullet or from falling as the crowd scattered.
The coup leaders appeared on television overnight, saying they were suspending “all institutions” and imposing other measures “until further notice.”
“We, the defense and security forces ... have decided to put an end to the regime” of President Bazoum, said their leader, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, flanked by nine other uniformed soldiers.
“This follows the continued deterioration of the security situation, poor economic and social governance,” he said.
The parties of Niger’s ruling coalition in Niamey denounced “a suicidal and anti-republican madness,” and condemnation poured in from regional and global leaders.
ECOWAS and the African Union each lashed what they called an “attempted coup d’etat”.
The West African bloc called for Bazoum’s immediate and unconditional release and warned all those involved would be held responsible for his safety.
The EU said it “associates itself” with the ECOWAS statement and attacked “any attempt to destabilize democracy and threaten the stability” of Niger.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he had spoken to Bazoum to offer Washington’s support, while UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he “strongly condemns the unconstitutional change in government” in Niger.
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