Military officers in the Republic of Niger have announced a coup on national television after they deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
They announced the immediate dissolution of the constitution, suspended all institutions, and locked the borders of the country.
Reading from a statement, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, alongside nine other officers, said defence and security forces had decided to: “Put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
The juntas warned against any foreign intervention, while emphasising that they will respect President Mohamed Bazoum’s wellbeing.
Niger President Mohamed Bazoum was detained since early Wednesday by troops from the presidential guard.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pledged Washington’s “unwavering support” for the detained President in a phone call.
On his part, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that he spoke with the president Bazoum and expressed the UN’s complete support for the embattled West African leader.
The latest coup is the ninth in the West and Central African region since 2020.
Mr. Bazoum is an important Western ally in West Africa’s fight against extremism.
This development, according to experts, could hinder the efforts of Western nations to assist countries in the Sahel to combat an insurgency that has extended from Mali over the last decade.
The West African economic bloc Ecowas has said it “condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force” in Niger and has sent Benin’s President Patrice Talon on a mediation mission.
Mr Talon said “all means” would be used, if necessary to restore constitutional order in Niger, “but the ideal would be for everything to be done in peace and harmony”.
Since its independence from France in 1960, Niger has had four coups and countless attempted coups by soldiers.
News agencies