Niger: Soldiers Overthrow President Bazoum

A group of soldiers in Niger appeared on national television on Wednesday, 26 July, to announce that they have “put an end to the regime”, hours after they detained President Mohamed Bazoum in the presidential palace.

Colonel Amadou Abdramane – accompanied by nine other uniformed officers – revealed that security and defence forces had decided to take charge due to “the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance” within the West African country.

Abdramane went on to ask that external forces don’t interfere with the situation, before declaring that Niger’s boards are “closed until the situation has stabilised” while also implementing a night-time curfew.

According to reports, armed troops blockaded the presidential palace in the country’s capital city, Niamey, earlier the same day. Hundreds of people are reported to have also taken to the streets to protest the coup at the same time; however, they were said to have been dispersed by gunfire from troops surrounding the palace.

Antony Blinken, the Secretary of State for the United States of America, spoke with reporters in New Zealand on Thursday, 27 July, calling for the immediate release of Bazoum as he is currently considered a valuable ally.

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