Niger President Mohamed Bazoum is being detained by members of the Presidential Guard, who have been given an “ultimatum” by the army.
Disgruntled members of the guard sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices, and after talks broke down “refused to release the president,” the source said, adding: “The army has given them an ultimatum.”
Bazoum was democratically elected in 2021, taking the helm of one of Africa’s poorest and most coup-prone countries.
President Bola Tinubu who is the chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has frowned at the unfolding “mutiny” scenario, stressing that the body will not tolerate acts that undermine democracy in the region.
In a terse statement, Tinubu said the leadership of the ECOWAS region will not tolerate any situation that incapacitates the democratically-elected government of Niger.
“The ECOWAS leadership will not accept any action that impedes the smooth functioning of legitimate authority in Niger or any part of West Africa,” Tinubu said.
“I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.”
The president noted that he was in close consultation with other leaders in the region, and vowed to protect “our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism”.
“As the chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order,” he added.
Niger is one of the most unstable nations in the world, experiencing four coups since independence from France in 1960.
