Mutinous soldiers in Niger Republic have defied the intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and international bodies by announcing the removal of President Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on national television on Wednesday night.
In the announcement, the soldiers led by Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane, an air force officer in the country, claimed to have overthrown Niger’s democratically elected president, announcing that they had put an end to the government over the country’s deteriorating security.
“We, the defence and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime you know. This is as a result of the continuing degradation of the security situation, the bad economic and social governance,” Col. Maj. Abdramane said in a video while seated at a table in front of nine other officers drawn from all arms of the country’s military formations.
The group, which calls itself the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), also announced the closure of all aerial and land borders, and imposed a night curfew which would take effect from 22:00 to 05:00 local time until further notice.
The group restated its commitment to engagements with the international and national communities.
“All external partners are asked not to interfere. Land and air borders are closed until the situation has stabilised,” he added.
He also said that all of the country’s institutions had been suspended and that the heads of the ministries would take care of day-to-day business, while urging external partners not to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
The soldiers also warned against foreign intervention and said they would respect Bazoum’s wellbeing.
The announcement of the coup came after much uncertainty as members of Niger’s presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace and detained President Bazoum and his family in the presidential palace.
Earlier on Wednesday, a tweet from Niger’s presidency had reported that members of the elite guard unit had engaged in an “anti-Republican demonstration” and unsuccessfully tried to obtain support from other security forces, adding that Bazoum and his family were doing well but that Niger’s army and national guard “were ready to attack” if those involved in the action did not back down.
The putsch has been roundly condemned by ECOWAS, African Union (AU), United Nations, the European Union, the United States and international governments and organisations.
ECOWAS Chairman, President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria had also condemned the move and promptly deployed the Benin Republic President, Patrice Talon, to Niger following reports of the attempted coup in the country.