During the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, gunshots rang out in the area of the presidential palace in Niamey. The government claims to have foiled a coup attempt, just two days before the official inauguration of Mohamed Bazoum.
"Everything is now under control." The spokesperson for the Nigerien government was reassuring on Wednesday. However, he confirmed that the heavy artillery shots which had been heard in Niamey the day before did indeed announce a coup attempt, which had been foiled. The government has not yet given further details on the armed men arrested or the faction of the security forces behind the attempt.
“Several people in connection with this coup attempt have been arrested and others actively sought. The government condemns this cowardly and retrograde act, wanting to endanger democracy and the rule of law in which our country is resolutely committed, as evidenced by the last democratic, free and transparent elections; greeted by the entire national and international community ”, declared Zakaria Abdourahmane on public radio.
Heavily armed men in military fatigues
This coup attempt takes place two days before the inauguration of President Mohamed Bazoum, whose victory was confirmed by the Constitutional Court on March 21. The various stages of the presidential election were punctuated by terrorist attacks. And Bazoum, ex-Minister of the Interior in disarray, can no longer secure the country. So much so that he called on Barkhane's French forces to extend their stay in Niger, during a televised interview for RFI and France 24 on March 29.
On the night of March 30 to 31, at around 3 a.m., men in military fatigues, armed with assault rifles and heavy 50-caliber submachine guns, stormed the presidential palace district in Niamey and the neighborhoods. neighbors of downtown, Plateau and Yantala.
Meanwhile, seven embassies headquartered in Niamey said they would be closed until further notice. Consular services are suspended and all staff are invited to stay at home. In a statement, the US embassy warns there could be an increase in police presence and traffic delays on main roads.
An opposition rally was scheduled for Wednesday, to challenge once again the victory of Mohamed Bazoum. During the month of March, more than 300 Nigerien civilians were killed by terrorist groups in a series of attacks in the west of the country.