- According to AFP, a source close to the presidency expressed that the presidential guard detained Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum and also arrested the country’s interior minister, Hamadou Souley in Niamey. The incident happened on Wednesday morning, when the guards surrounded the presidential palace and blocked access to Bazoum’s residence and offices after “talks” ended in failure and the army gave the guard “an ultimatum.”
- According to this source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, after a “movement of mood” by members of the presidential guard who barred entry to the presidency in Niamey, “At the end of the talks, the presidential guard refused to release the president, and the army gave him an ultimatum.”
- The presidency of Niger reports that on Wednesday morning, “elements of the presidential guard (GP) engaged in an anti-republican mood movement and tried in vain to obtain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard,” in a message posted on Twitter, now “X.”
- They also stated that “the President of the Republic and his family are doing well” and that “the army and the national guard are ready to attack the elements of the GP involved in this mood swing if they do not return to better feelings.”
- The West African group ECOWAS referred to the action as a “attempted coup” and demanded that the “plotters” return Bazoum without delay or restrictions. Additionally expressing their concern and urging adherence to the constitutional order was the African Union and the United Nations.
- Since gaining its independence in 1960, the history of Niger, a former French colony and an impoverished nation racked by Islamist violence, has been characterized by putschs and attempted coups.
- Later, hundreds of Bazoum-supporting demonstrators gathered in Niamey, the nation’s capital. When demonstrators were about 300 meters (984 ft) from the presidential palace, presidential guards fired “warning shots” to stop their approach, although CNN saw no injuries.
- Later on Wednesday, up to 400 demonstrators could be seen, some carrying Bazoum memorabilia and placards that said, “No to the destabilization of the republic’s institutions.”
- In another 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.”
