How Disloyal Soldiers Plot To Remove Niger Republic President...As Soldiers Arrest Coup Leader
Some loyal soldiers to President Mohamed Bazoum, of Niger Republic on Wednesday foiled coup attempt by some disloyal soldiers who tried to remove President Bazoum, and arrested the leader of the gang.
Some loyal soldiers to President Mohamed Bazoum, of Niger Republic on Wednesday foiled coup attempt by some disloyal soldiers who tried to remove President Bazoum, and arrested the leader of the gang.
President Bazoum was reportedly held hostage by coup plotters in the country early Wednesday, by soldiers who barricaded the presidential palace as well as several ministries in the capital, Niamey as anxiety about the fate of President Bazoum grows in what looks like an attempted coup in the country.
According to reports, no shots were fired and it’s not clear if this was an attempt by the presidential guard to seize power.
According to several news reports, the president’s office had tweeted that the guards unsuccessfully tried to get support from the military in their “anti-republican” efforts.
It was gathered that President Bazoum, was being blockaded in his residence with his family, but the enraged soldiers are being assuaged as talks by former President Mohammed Issoufou and other past leaders are underway to bring the situation under control.
“The President of the Republic and his family are doing well. The Army and the National Guard are ready to attack” those involved in this incident, the president’s office added.
In a statement on Wednesday, the ECOWAS Commission based in Abuja said it received the news of the attempted coup d’ etat in Niger “with shock and consternation.”
Part of the statement read: “ECOWAS condemns in the strongest of terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically –elected President of the Republic immediately and without any condition.
“ECOWAS and the international community will hold all those involved in the plot responsible for the security of and safety of the President, his family, members of the government and the general public.”
ECOWAS said further that it would not tolerate any more coups in West Africa.
Recall that Niger had experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960, as well as numerous attempted coups.
President Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021, is a close ally of France.
The country’s last coup occurred in February 2010, overturning then President Mamadou Tandja.
Two Jihadists gang uprising one in the south-west, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the south-east, involving jihadists based in north-eastern Nigeria
Militant groups linked to both al-Qaeda and Islamic State have troubled the country in recent years leading to deaths and destruction.
Countries in West are increasing being plagued by coups in recent times. Mali Guinea and Burkina Faso have experienced coups recently amid difficult economy and high poverty rate.
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