Military officers in Niger Republic have toppled the government of President Mohammed Bazoum.
The soldiers took over the state television and announced a successful operation in the West African country on Wednesday night. The development came hours after Mr Bazoum was held inside the presidential palace in the capital Niamey.
Colonel Amadou Abdramane, who appeared to be among the leaders of the coup, took the centre position during the announcement, with nine other officers in military fatigues standing beside him.
Mr Abdramane addressed Mr Bazoum directly, saying the soldiers seized power to “put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
Mr Bazoum was eventually ousted despite widespread condemnation that greeted his detention. President Bola Tinubu quickly rejected earlier attempts by the military to seize power and sent a delegation to the country, which is Nigeria’s neighbour to the north.
Mr Tinubu had warned earlier this month that West African nations would no longer tolerate violent seizures of power in the sub-region.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed Washington’s “unwavering support” in a call to Mr Bazoum earlier on Wednesday.
The military junta quickly announced the immediate closure of the country’s borders and a nationwide curfew that was imposed indefinitely.
Mr Bazoum assumed office on April 2, 2021. He survived an attempted coup on March 31, 2021, just two days before his inauguration. Today’s event marked the first successful coup in Niger since 2010.
