Mutinous troopers say they’ve taken Niger; the federal government says a coup received’t be tolerated

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — People in Niger awoke to a divided nation Thursday after mutinous troopers claimed to have ousted the president. But the federal government stated it would by no means settle for their rule and has referred to as for the inhabitants to reject it.

“There was an attempted coup, but of course we cannot accept it,” Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassoumi Massoudou advised information community France 24 in an interview Thursday.

“We call on all Nigerien democratic patriots to stand up as one to say no to this factious action that tends to set us back decades and block the progress of our country,” he stated. He additionally referred to as for the president’s unconditional launch and stated talks have been ongoing.

President Mohamed Bazoum was elected in 2021 within the West African nation’s first peaceable, democratic switch of energy since its independence from France in 1960. He thwarted a coup try days earlier than he was sworn in.

Threats to his management undermine the West’s efforts to stabilize Africa’s Sahel area, which has been overrun with coups in recent times. Mali and Burkina Faso have had 4 coups since 2020, and each are being overrun by extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Niger in March, looking for to strengthen ties with a rustic the place extremists have carried out assaults on civilians and army personnel however the general safety scenario was not as dire as in neighboring nations.

On Wednesday morning, members of the presidential guard surrounded the home of Bazoum with him and his spouse inside and detained him.

The mutinous troopers, who name themselves the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, took to state tv and introduced they’d seized management due to the deteriorating safety and dangerous financial and social governance of the nation’s 25 million folks. They stated all establishments had been suspended and safety forces have been managing the scenario, and urged exterior companions to not intrude. The tried coup was allegedly sparked by the top of the presidential guard, General Tchiani, who the president had deliberate to alleviate from his place, Niger analysts say.

According to somebody near the president who spoke on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren’t approved to talk about the scenario, the president has not and won’t resign and is secure in his residence.

“The hard-won achievements will be safeguarded. All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom will see to it,” Bazoum tweeted early Thursday morning.

It’s unclear how a lot help the coup leaders have from the remainder of the safety forces, however help for Bazoum among the many inhabitants and political events seems sturdy. In a press release Wednesday, a bunch of Nigerien political teams stated the scenario was “suicidal and anti-republican madness.”

“Our country, faced with insecurity, terrorism and the challenges of underdevelopment, cannot afford to be distracted,” it stated.

Benin President Patrice Talon, head of the Economic Community of West African State, is predicted to steer talks as a part of mediation efforts.

In an interview with the Associated Press in December, Bazoum stated that whereas there’s all the time the potential of a coup when armies fail to safe a nation towards extremists, Niger had the scenario below management. “We are doing well in managing our own situation,” he stated.

For many Western nations, Niger was seen because the final hope for partnership within the area with anti-French sentiment that led to a pivot from French forces in Mali to the Russian mercenary group Wagner, based by millionaire businessman Yevgeny Prigozhin. Wagner is believed to be making inroads in Burkina Faso as effectively.

There is concern {that a} potential new regime in Niger would take a web page from these nations’ playbooks and worsen instability.

The worldwide neighborhood strongly condemned the coup Thursday.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna tweeted that France is worried concerning the occasions in Niger and following the scenario intently. France “firmly condemns any attempt to take power by force,” the minister tweeted.

The European Union’s overseas coverage chief, Josep Borrell, tweeted that Niger is “an essential partner” for the EU within the Sahel and that the area’s “destabilization would serve no one’s interests.” He reaffirmed the EU’s full help of Bazoum.

___