The President of the West African nation of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, has been removed from power, claimed a group of soldiers in a video released on national TV. The men, reportedly the members of the presidential guard, said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation's borders.
In the video, a man identified as Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane said: "We, the defence and security forces... have decided to put an end to the regime. This follows the continuing deterioration of the security situation and poor economic and social governance."
Abdramane, flanked by nine men in military fatigues, added: "All external partners are asked not to interfere. Land and air borders are closed until the situation has stabilised." He added a night curfew would take effect from 22:00 until 05:00 local time until further notice.
Col Maj Abdramane said the soldiers were acting for the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP). The country’s interior minister, Hamadou Souley, was also arrested by the presidential guard on Wednesday.
While the Presidential Guard could be seen guarding the presidential complex which has been sealed off since Wednesday, Bazoum's social media channels said he is doing well. They said the national guard were "ready to attack the elements of the GP [Presidential Guard] involved in this fit of anger if they do not return to their better senses."
Meanwhile, protests erupted in Niger's capital Niamey with agitators carrying signs that read: "No to the destabilization of the republic’s institutions." Presidential guards fired "warning shots" and none were injured. Heavily armed forces loyal to the president too were seen stationed in the city. However, the rest of the city remained calm.
The coup was denounced by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which in a statement on Wednesday said there had been an "attempt to seize power by force" in Niger.
"ECOWAS condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force and calls on the coup plotters to free the democratically-elected President of the Republic immediately and without any condition," the bloc added.
Though there are reports of intense discussions between the country’s Presidential Guard and government authorities, it isn't clear what was exactly being discussed.
US reacts
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday called for the immediate release of Bazoum. "Whether this constitutes a coup technically or not, I can't say, that's for the lawyers to say, but what it clearly constitutes an effort to seize power by force and disrupt the constitution," Blinken told a news conference in the New Zealand capital Wellington.