Niger: President Bazoum removed from power in Sahel’s latest coup

A group of Nigerien soldiers announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum after he was seized by members of his presidential guards in a coup backed by the army.

“We, the defense and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime of President Bazoum,”  a man identified as Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane and surrounded by several soldiers announced on national TV. He cited a deteriorating security situation in the country and “poor economic and social governance.”

The group of soldiers is calling itself the “National Council for Safeguarding.” “The country’s borders are closed and a nationwide curfew declared”, added Amadou Abdramane in his statement. This putsch followed a confused day during which soldiers had blocked off the presidential Palace in Niamey.

He said the constitution was dissolved, and institutions suspended in the fragile Sahel nation that is facing extremist insurgency risks.

Niger’s chief of staff declared support for the coup saying priority was given to avoid destabilizing the country.

Hundreds of supporters of the ruling PNDS-TARAYYA flocked in front of the parliament Wednesday to vow their support to the Nigerien leader. The demonstration was spontaneous and saw the participation of lawmakers close to the party.

“We’ve come out to protest against what’s been going on since this Wednesday morning. President Mohamed Bazoum was elected by the people of Niger and no one has the right to dismiss him,” said Adamou Namata, a lawmaker from the PNDS-TARAYYA.

Niger is the latest to witness a coup in the Sahel region following the examples of neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso.

France in particular is watching developments closely after its interests were drastically undermined by the military rulers in Mali and Burkina Faso.

France relies on Niger’s uranium to power its plant amid an energy crisis in Europe.

While the whereabouts of President Bazoum are still unknown, foreign minister Hassoumi Massoudou declared himself head of state and called to foil the coup.

Western powers including the US back Bazoum and see in him an ally in the fight against mushrooming terrorist groups in the Sahel.

The removed president was promised Washington’s “unwavering support” in a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

UN Secretary General António Guterres also said he had spoken to the president and offered the UN’s full support to the uranium-rich country.

The West African economic bloc Ecowas has said it “condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force” in Niger and called on the plotters to free Bazoum, while the AU urged the “felon” soldiers involved to return to barracks immediately.

Bazoum came to power in 2021 following presidential elections whose results were rejected by the opposition. Niger has experienced four military coups respectively in 1974, 1996, 1999 and 2010.