Despite Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s president, taking a stubborn stance, the head of the military forces of Niger on Thursday reaffirmed his support for troops who said they had seized power.
Bazoum was held on Wednesday by members of his presidential guard in the most recent unrest to rock the coup-prone Sahel.
Additionally, according to AFP journalists, adolescents trashed the headquarters of his ruling party on Thursday.
A few hours later, their leaders announced they had “decided to put an end to the regime,” and all institutions were being suspended, the borders were being blocked, and a nighttime curfew was being implemented. They called themselves the Defence and Security Forces (FDS).
Bazoum maintained his position as allies France and the United States announced their support for Niger’s elected government and African and international organizations denounced the purported takeover.
“The hard-won gains will be safeguarded,” he said on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X.
“All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom would want this.”
Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou said Niger’s “legal and legitimate power” was the one exercised by its elected president.
There had been a “coup bid” but “the whole of the army was not involved,” he told France24 television.
“We ask all the fractious soldiers to return to their ranks,” he said.
“Everything can be achieved through dialogue but the institutions of the republic must function.”
But armed forces chief General Abdou Sidikou Issa dealt a hefty blow to those hopes.
“The military command… has decided to subscribe to the declaration made by the Defence and Security Forces… in order to avoid a deadly confrontation between the various forces,” he said in a statement.
AFP correspondents observed several hundred individuals participating in a show of solidarity for the coup leaders in Niamey, some of whom were carrying Russian flags. Youths from the group traveled several miles (kilometers) to Bazoum’s PNDS party headquarters, trashed it, and set some cars on fire.
The President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) announced that the president of neighboring Benin, Patrice Talon, will be in the city to assist with mediation efforts.
