VANGUARD
President Bola Tinubu, the United Nations Secretary-General and the United States have condemned efforts to seize power by force in an apparent coup attempt to oust President Mohamed Bazoum in the Sahel state of Niger Republic yesterday.
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari also described the attempted coup as “utterly naïve, despicable, and unacceptable”.
Buhari urged African leaders to “remain united against coups under whatever guise or form”, and warned “coup plotters to learn from history on the consequences of instability caused by violent takeover of governments”.
Soldiers belonging to Niger’s presidential guard surrounded and restricted access to President Mohamed Bazoum’s office and residence.
“The army has given them an ultimatum,” said the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
In a message on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X, the president’s office said “elements of the Presidential Guard (PG) had a fit of temper… (and) tried unsuccessfully to gain the support of the national armed forces and the national guard.”
“The army and national guard are ready to attack the elements of the PG who are involved in this fit of temper if they do not return to a better disposition,” the presidency said.
“The president and his family are well,” it added. The reason for the guards’ anger was not disclosed.
According to Reuters, ministries next to the palace have also been blocked off, and staff inside the palace have not been able to access their offices.
The rest of Niamey, Niger’s capital, however, appears calm.
LSI Africa reports that discussions are underway between mutineers and the president.
The West African country is one of the most unstable nations in the world, experiencing four coups since independence from France in 1960.
•Presidential guards fire warning shots on demonstrators
According to an AFP journalist, the Presidential Guards fired warning shots to disperse demonstrators and supporters, who tried to approach the presidential complex where the head of state is being held. They scattered when the shots were fired.
President Tinubu, who is Chairman of the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS, said military take over in one of its member-states would be rejected.
Tinubu who is ECOWAS Chairman said military take over would be rejected.
“Information filtering in from the Republic of Niger indicates some unpleasant developments around the country’s highest political leadership.
“It should be quite clear to all players in the Republic of Niger that the leadership of the ECOWAS Region and all lovers of democracy around the world will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of the country.
