Niger Junta Says It Foils Attempted Escape of Ousted President from Custody
The military government in the Niger Republic Military Junta says it has foiled an attempt by the deposed former president, Mohamed Bazoum, to escape from custody.
Military spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television that the former president attempted to flee in the night with his family, cooks, and security.
The spokesman said that the escape bid failed, and the main actors and some of the accomplices were arrested.
Mr. Abdramane said the attempted escape happened at around 2:00 GMT on Thursday.
According to him, the plan involved Mr. Bazoum getting to a hideout on the outskirts of the capital, Niamey.
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He added that the group had then planned to fly out on helicopters “belonging to a foreign power” towards Nigeria.
The junta has held on to power despite pressure from Niger’s Western and regional allies.
Last week, the US said it was putting a hold on its assistance programs to Niger, including funding, while formally declaring Bazoum’s ouster as a coup.
The military rulers said they overthrew Bazoum because of the country’s security problems and struggling economy.
Niger’s coup was the latest in successive power grabs by the military in the troubled West African Sahel region, which has grappled for years with jihadist insurgencies.
