Mohamed Bazoum, Niger Republic’s President had taken to social media today, Thursday, July 27, to pledge to protect the “hard-won” democracy in the country, a day after he was overthrown in a military coup.
Hassoumi Massoudou, the country’s foreign minister had also issued a rallying cry on X, (formerly Twitter), for all democrats and patriots of the country to ensure that the coup failed.
The statements by these political figures had come after a late-night broadcast on Wednesday, July 26, by soldiers who announced on national television that Bazoum had been removed from power. The soldiers had further declared that all institutions of the republic were suspended.
Niger’s coup will make it the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.
Recall that earlier on Wednesday, members of the presidential guard had cut off the presidential palace in Niamey, blocked Bazoum inside.
That incident alone had sparked regional and international concern about uncertainty in a country that is a central ally for Western powers helping to battle an insurgency in the Sahel.
As at the time of writing this report, Bazoum is still being held inside the presidential palace, according to Massoudou. His own whereabouts are however, not known.
The city Niamey has been quiet this morning, with citizens awaking to shut borders and a nationwide curfew, enforced by the military.
The president’s supporters had assembled in the city as events took place on Wednesday, expressing their dissent and opposition to the change of power.
They had later been dispersed.
It is still unclear who has taken command but the televised announcement had been read by a member of the air force, Colonel Amadou Abdramane.
