An attempted coup was reportedly under way Wednesday in the fragile West African State of Niger, where members of the Presidential Guard allegedly detained President Mohamed Bazoum, triggering a standoff with the army, sources said.
The West African bloc ECOWAS and the African Union condemned what they called an “attempted coup d’etat,” a term also used by a source close to Bazoum.
UN chief Antonio Guterres condemned “any effort to seize power by force” and urged respect for Niger’s Constitution, while the United States expressed deep concern and called for Bazoum to be released.
France, Niger’s former colonial master, and neighbouring Algeria also issued statements condemning the situation.
One of a dwindling group of pro-western leaders in the Sahel, Bazoum was elected in 2021, taking the helm of a country burdened by poverty and a history of chronic instability.
Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices in the capital Niamey, and after talks broke down, “refused to release the president,” another presidential source said.
“The army has given them an ultimatum,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president’s office said, “elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper… (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard.
“The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition,” the Presidency said.
“The president and his family are well,” it added.
The reason for the guards’ anger was not disclosed.
Access was blocked off to the presidential complex in Niamey, but there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was normal, as reporters saw.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and AU issued separate statements condemning an “attempted coup d’etat.”
The same term was used by the source close to Bazoum, who, speaking anonymously, also said that the bid was “doomed to fail.”
ECOWAS called for Bazoum’s immediate and unconditional release and warned that everyone involved would be responsible for his safety.
The European Union said it “associates itself” with the ECOWAS statement and condemned “any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability” of Niger.