Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was held by the presidential guard in Niamey on Wednesday after “talks” failed and the army delivered “an ultimatum” to the guard, according to an AFP source close to the presidency.
“At the end of the meetings, the presidential guard refused to release the president, and the army gave him an ultimatum,” said this anonymous source, referring to a “mood movement” of presidential guard personnel who barred entrance to the presidency in Niamey.
In a message posted on Twitter, renamed “X”, the presidency of Niger indicates that on Wednesday morning, “elements of the presidential guard (GP) engaged in an anti-republican mood movement and tried in vain to obtain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard”.
“The army and the national guard are ready to attack the elements of the GP involved in this mood swing if they do not return to better feelings”, adds the presidency, affirming that “the President of the Republic and his family are doing well. “
The history of Niger, a former French colony, a poor country plagued by jihadist violence, has been marked by putschs and attempted coups since its independence in 1960.
