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Niger’s presidency
has reported an attempted coup by members of the presidential guard against
President Mohamed Bazoum.
The
presidency's official Twitter account stated that the guards engaged in an
"anti-Republican demonstration" and tried unsuccessfully to gain support
from other security forces.
President
Bazoum and his family were confirmed to be safe despite initial reports of him
being held in the presidential palace in Niamey.
Report of the Incident
The palace and
nearby ministries were blocked off by military vehicles, preventing access for
staff.
Bazoum's
supporters were dispersed with warning shots by the Presidential Guard as they
tried to approach the presidential complex.
Al Jazeera's
Ahmed Idris mentioned that there were reports of negotiations taking place, and
some coup plotters allegedly demanded Bazoum's surrender of power.
Response from Outside
The African
Union Commission's chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, condemned the attempted
coup, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) called for
Bazoum's immediate release and warned those involved would be held accountable.
UN
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and several countries, including the United
States, France, and the EU, condemned any attempt to seize power by force.
The motives for
the coup attempt remain uncertain, but rising living costs, government
incompetence, and corruption were cited as potential factors.
Expert Analysis
Emmanuel Kwesi
Aning, a professor of peacekeeping practice, acknowledged the challenges facing
West African governments due to corruption and the fight against violent
extremism.
However, he
emphasized that these challenges did not justify a coup.
Niger experienced
its first democratic transition of power in 2021 when Bazoum was elected as
president.
The region has
witnessed several military coups, notably in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso,
driven partly by frustrations over handling the rebel insurgency in the Sahel
region.
Ulf Leassing,
an analyst, described the situation as more of a mutiny than a coup attempt by
members of the presidential guards.
While Niger may
appear stable with international aid support, it remains a poor and fragile
country, making it susceptible to political upheavals.
Niger is a
crucial ally for Western powers assisting local troops in the fight against the
Sahel conflict, which has spread to neighboring countries.
France has
moved troops to Niger from Mali due to souring relations with the military
government there, a pattern observed in other former French colonies in the
region.
(Courtesy: Al-Jazeera)
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