Soldiers from the presidential guard within the West African nation of Niger barricaded the president in his palace in an obvious mutiny on Wednesday, in response to the Nigerien president’s workplace and the regional bloc of neighboring states.
The destiny of the nation’s president, Mohamed Bazoum, was unclear, though his representatives mentioned that he was secure. The standoff raised fears of a coup in a area that has currently been jolted by many.
Late Wednesday, troopers opened hearth on a crowd that gathered exterior the presidential palace in assist of Mr. Bazoum, forcing them to flee.
Niger, an enormous and landlocked nation within the huge stretch of Africa generally known as the Sahel, has skilled 4 army coups since independence from France in 1960 — most lately in 2010. Militant teams linked to each Al Qaeda and Islamic State function there.
Mr. Bazoum, who was elected in 2021, has been some of the dependable companions to many Western nations in a risky area stuffed with getting old presidents clinging to energy and younger army officers who’ve seized energy by power. The leaders of neighboring Mali and close by Central African Republic have turned to Russia’s Wagner militia forces for defense.
The workplace of the Nigerien presidency mentioned on Twitter, in a submit that’s not seen, “Early this Wednesday morning, elements of the Presidential Guard engaged in an anti-Republican move and tried in vain to obtain the support of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard.”
It added that the army was standing able to “attack the elements” behind the mutiny if they don’t relent.
An adviser to Mr. Bazoum, talking from contained in the presidential palace within the capital, Niamey, mentioned that some members of the presidential guard had locked up the president and a few of his group there with a purpose to negotiate.
“No outcome for now,” mentioned the adviser, who spoke on the situation of anonymity due to security considerations.
Local media reported that the inside minister, Hamadou Adamou Souley, had additionally been detained by troopers. Mr. Souley’s telephone was turned off; a messaging service mentioned he had final been on-line simply earlier than 7 a.m.
By late Wednesday, a lot of central Niamey was abandoned. Soldiers guarded the doorway to the nationwide tv station. About 20 members of the presidential guard stood earlier than the palace gates.
Several hundred individuals mounted a protest exterior the nationwide parliament to demand the discharge of their president. “Free Bazoum!” they cried earlier than marching towards the presidential palace.
But quickly after, bursts of gunfire have been heard coming from the palace. Reporters mentioned they appeared to have been fired by the presidential guard in search of to disperse the protesters. A reporter for France’s TV5 station posted video of individuals fleeing the gunfire.
The coming hours will likely be essential, mentioned Hassane Koné, a researcher on the nonprofit Institute for Security Studies, whose work focuses on the Sahel. Residents worry that troops loyal to the president might conflict with these encircling the presidential compound, he mentioned.
In an announcement, ECOWAS, the regional physique of nations, condemned what it referred to as the “attempted coup” and referred to as on the “coup plotters” to launch Mr. Bazoum with out situation.
It raised the prospect that Niger was within the throes of West Africa’s sixth coup since 2020, following earlier military-led ousters in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
A coup additionally came about within the northeastern nation of Sudan in November 2021, laying the bottom for the catastrophic battle between rival army factions that erupted in April this 12 months.
Niger has held strategic significance for France, the previous colonizer that has confronted rising discontent from neighboring nations of Niger in recent times. France withdrew troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, after relationships with army juntas there soured.
Last 12 months, the European Union pledged to supply $1.3 billion to shift Niger’s economic system away from oil. During a go to to the nation in March, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken introduced $150 million in humanitarian help to Niger and neighboring nations.
In assertion, the State Department mentioned it was “gravely concerned” about occasions in Niger and condemned “any effort to seize power by force and disrupt the constitutional order.” It made a name for Mr. Bazoum’s speedy launch that was repeated by Jake Sullivan, the nationwide safety adviser on the White House, who referred to as Niger “a critical partner for the United States.”
Ulf Laessing, the pinnacle of the Sahel program on the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, famous in an interview on Wednesday that Niamey was calm when he traveled there final week.
But he mentioned that Mr. Bazoum could have confronted rising discontent from components of the army that haven’t acquired funding from Western companions. He added that many Nigeriens, particularly in Niamey, are struggling hardship amid elements together with a rising price of dwelling.
Declan Walsh contributed reporting from Nairobi, Kenya, Lynsey Chutel from Johannesburg and Eric Schmitt from Washington.
Source: www.nytimes.com