The regime of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown by the military on Wednesday July 26, the latter announced in a statement read by one of them on national television in Niamey, on behalf of a National Council for the Safeguarding of the homeland (CNSP).
“We, the defense and security forces (FDS), united within the CNSP, have decided to put an end to the regime that you know”, that of President Bazoum, declared Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, surrounded by nine other soldiers Uniformed. “This follows the continued deterioration of the security situation, poor economic and social governance,” he added, announcing the suspension of “all institutions.”
He then affirmed the “attachment” of the CNSP to “respect for all the commitments made by Niger”, also reassuring “the national and international community with respect to the respect for the physical and moral integrity of the deposed authorities in accordance with the principles of the human rights “.
The army gave Thursday, July 27 its support to the putschist soldiers. “The military command of the Nigerien Armed Forces (FAN)” has “decided to subscribe to the declaration of the Defense and Security Forces”, reads a statement signed by the Chief of Staff, General Abdou Sidikou Issa, in order to “to avoid a deadly confrontation between the different forces”.
A demonstration in support of the putschists gathered several hundred people on Thursday in the capital, Niamey, in front of the National Assembly. Among them, young people went to the headquarters of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS, in power), a few kilometers from the rally, where they looted the building and set fire to cars parked in the parking lot. . During the demonstration, a vehicle drove into the crowd before being damaged and its driver molested, according to an AFP journalist. A deputy who took part in the demonstration was stone-thrown, then was exfiltrated by other demonstrators.
In a crowd dotted with Russian flags, young people shouted, “Down with France, long live Russia!” They were grouped behind Issouf, mechanic, who claimed that “France has not been able to manage our problems, we need to take our own destiny into our own hands”! Russia moved closer to Mali and Burkina Faso led by putshist soldiers who demanded the departure of French troops, still present in Niger with 1,500 men.
In Dosso, a town about 100 kilometers southeast of Niamey, “hundreds” of pro-coup demonstrators also roamed the streets before holding a rally, said one of the organizers, Hassane Bagué.
“All the institutions resulting from the Seventh Republic are suspended, the secretaries general of the ministries will take care of the dispatch of current affairs, the defense and security forces are managing the situation. All external partners are requested not to interfere,” the statement further read. This seems to indicate that all the corps of the army, the police and the gendarmerie have joined the presidential guard.
In addition, “land and air borders are closed until the situation stabilizes” and “a curfew is in place from today from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. [21 p.m. to 4 a.m. GMT] the whole extent of the territory until further notice”.
The putschist soldiers also accused France on Thursday July 27 of having “overridden” their decision to close the borders by landing a military plane in Niamey. In reference to the decision announced Wednesday evening “relating to the closure of air and land borders, it was found that the French partner overrode to land an A401 type military aircraft at Niamey international airport this morning (Thursday ) at 6:30 a.m. (5:30 GMT), the putschists say in a statement, calling “once and for all for strict compliance with the arrangements” made by the junta.
US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken called for the president’s “immediate release” by providing “unwavering support” to Mohamed Bazoum and Niger’s democracy. “I spoke with President Bazoum earlier this morning and made it clear to him that the United States stands firmly behind him as the democratically elected President of Niger. We demand his immediate release,” said Antony Blinken, visiting New Zealand.
Washington, which refuses to clarify whether the military revolt was a coup, a qualification that could hamper US cooperation with Nigerien authorities, particularly in the fight against terrorism, “condemns this effort to take the power by force and to overthrow the constitutional order,” added the US Secretary of State.
For its part, France condemns “any attempt to seize power by force”, said Catherine Colonna, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Paris “joins the calls of the African Union and ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States, editor’s note] to restore the integrity of Niger’s democratic institutions”, she wrote on his Twitter account, renamed X.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock called the coup in Niger a “slap in the face” for the people of the country, in a statement released after a meeting with her Nigerien counterpart, Hassoumi Massoudou. She gave her “full support” for “the democratic evolution of Niger” and demanded the “immediate release of the ousted Nigerien president” Mohamed Bazoum, the statement said.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has “strongly condemned the unconstitutional change of government” in Niger, his spokesman said on Wednesday after military coup leaders announced they had overthrown elected President Mohamed Bazoum. He said he was “deeply disturbed” by the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by members of the presidential guard, his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said in a statement. “The Secretary-General calls for the immediate cessation of all actions that undermine democratic principles in Niger,” Dujarric added.
The head of diplomacy and head of the Nigerien government ad interim, Hassoumi Massoudou, rejected the coup on Thursday, declaring that his government represented “the legitimate and legal authorities”, in an interview with France 24. legal and legitimate power is that exercised by the elected president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum”, currently sequestered by putschist soldiers at the presidency in Niamey, he hammered, adding that Mr. Bazoum was “in good health”.
