Niger’s presidency confirms coup attempt, says president Bazuom safe

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NIAMEY: Niger’s presidency Wednesday said that some members of the presidential guard attempted a coup on President Mohamed Bazoum.

The official presidency’s twitter handle said that a section of the presidential guards engaged in an “anti-Republican demonstration” and tried “in vain” to obtain the support of the other security forces.

It added that Bazoum and his family were well after news agencies quoted security sources as saying that the guards were holding Bazoum inside the presidential palace in the capital, Niamey.

The palace and ministries next to it had been blocked off by military vehicles on Wednesday morning. Staff inside the palace were also unable to access their offices, presidency, and security sources said. But there was calm elsewhere in Niamey.

Bola Tinubu, president of neighbouring Nigeria and new chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), called the events “unpleasant developments” and said he was already in “close consultation” with other leaders in the region about the situation.

“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa … we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region”, he said in a statement.

Bazoum was elected president in a 2021 election that was the first democratic transition of power in a state that has witnessed four military coups since independence from France in 1960.

By Fauxile Kibet (Additional reporting by agencies.)