Niger Soldiers Declared Coup, As Detained President Remains Defiant

Soldiers in the West African country of Niger have announced a coup on national TV. They said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation’s borders.

Niger President Mohamed Bazoum has been held by troops from the Presidential Guard since early on Wednesday.

United Nations(UN), Secretary General, Antonio Guterres also said he had spoken to the president and offered the UN’s full support.

Mr. Bazoum’s whereabouts are unclear but in a statement on twitter on Thursday morning he said the “hard-won gains will be safeguarded” and that Nigerians who love democracy will see to it.

Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou has declared himself the head of state and called on all democrats to “make this adventure fail”.

Read Also:

Ghana Parliament Abolishes Death Penalty

In the TV announcement on Wednesday, Connell Maj Amadou Abdramane, said they toppled the government, following the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance.

The West African Economic BLOC, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has said it “condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force” in Niger.

The landlocked state is one of the poorest and most unstable countries in the world, experiencing four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, as well as numerous other attempts – including two previously against Bazoum.

The 63-year-old is one of a dwindling group of elected presidents and pro-Western leaders in the Sahel, where since 2020 a rampaging terrorist insurgency has triggered coups in Mali and Burkina Faso.

Their juntas have forced out French troops and in the case of Mali, the ruling military has woven a close alliance with Russia.