Niger elected President, Mohamed Bazoum, was detained in a coup led by the Presidential Guard on Wednesday and on Friday Niger’s putschists named an army general as the new leader.
The former colonial ruler, France, expressed its disapproval of the coup, urging the plotters to respect the democratically-elected president and leave him in office.
General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, emerged as the leader of the coup and declared himself the “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland.”
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France has been a key ally of Niger
He justified the coup as a response to the deteriorating security situation caused by jihadist violence in the country.
French President Emmanuel Macron strongly condemned the coup, warning that it posed a significant threat not only to Niger but to the entire Sahel region, where Western powers are working to combat insurgent activity.
President Bazoum and his family were confined to the presidential palace within the military camp of the Presidential Guard since Wednesday morning when the coup took place.
Despite the tense situation, Bazoum has been in communication with other heads of state, including President Macron, and is reported to be in good health.
The population needs to remain calm
The coup has drawn widespread condemnation from African and international organizations, as well as allies like Germany and the United States.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) plans to hold a summit on Sunday, during which possible sanctions against the coup leaders may be decided.
Niger has a history of political instability, with several previous coup attempts. Bazoum, a pro-Western leader, took office after the country’s first peaceful transition of power since independence in 1960.
The landlocked nation, one of the world’s poorest, has been grappling with jihadist insurgencies spilling over from neighboring Mali and Nigeria.
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Military Coups/Attempted Coups in Africa
In another news the President of Niger, Mohammed Bazoum was detained by the members of the Presidential Guard who have been given an “ultimatum” by the army, a source close to Bazoum said on Wednesday.
It was made clear that the President and his family are fine, however, these members of the Presidential Guard denied access and blocked all exits from the presidential offices and residences.
The PG attempted to gain the support of the national armed forces but failed woefully according to a message shared on Twitter, they were also warned by the army and national guard to ‘return to a better disposition’ or they will attack.
