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Troopers from the presidential guard within the West African nation of Niger barricaded the president in his palace in an obvious mutiny on Wednesday, in keeping with the president’s workplace and the regional bloc of neighboring states.
The nation’s president, Mohamed Bazoum, was being held hostage along with his spouse at his residence within the palace within the capital, Niamey, after negotiations with the top of the presidential guard stalled, an aide stated on Wednesday night time, talking on the situation of anonymity due to security considerations.
The standoff raised fears of a coup in a area that has currently been jolted by many.
Niger, an unlimited and landlocked nation within the stretch of Africa referred to as the Sahel, has skilled 4 army coups since independence from France in 1960 — most just lately in 2010. Militant teams linked to each Al Qaeda and Islamic State function there.
Mr. Bazoum was elected in 2021 in Niger’s first peaceable, democratic switch of energy. He has been one of many West’s most dependable companions in a risky area full of getting old presidents clinging to energy and younger army officers who’ve seized management by drive.
The leaders of neighboring Mali and close by Central African Republic have turned to Russia’s Wagner personal army firm for cover. However Mr. Bazoum caught with the previous colonial energy, France, and america, which has 800 troops in Niger in addition to two drone bases in its northern desert.
The workplace of the Nigerien presidency said on Twitter, in a submit that’s not seen, “Early this Wednesday morning, components of the Presidential Guard engaged in an anti-Republican transfer and tried in useless to acquire the assist of the Nationwide Armed Forces and the Nationwide Guard.”
It added that the army was standing able to “assault the weather” behind the mutiny if they didn’t relent.
The president of neighboring Benin, Patrice Talon, introduced that he was going to Niger in an effort to mediate a peaceable finish to the disaster. The USA, the United Nations, the European Union and regional our bodies referred to as on the mutinying troopers to face down.
By late Wednesday, a lot of central Niamey was abandoned. Troopers guarded the doorway to the nationwide tv station. About 20 members of the presidential guard stood earlier than the palace gates.
A number of hundred folks mounted a protest outdoors the nationwide parliament to demand the discharge of their president. “Free Bazoum!” they cried earlier than marching towards the presidential palace.
However quickly after, bursts of gunfire had been heard coming from the palace. Reporters stated they appeared to have been fired by the presidential guard in search of to disperse the protesters. A reporter for France’s TV5 station posted video of individuals fleeing the gunfire.
In an announcement, ECOWAS, the regional physique of nations, condemned what it called the “attempted coup” and referred to as on the “coup plotters” to launch Mr. Bazoum with out situation.
It raised the prospect that Niger was within the throes of West Africa’s sixth coup since 2020, following earlier military-led ousters in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali.
A coup additionally passed off within the northeastern nation of Sudan in November 2021, laying the bottom for the catastrophic battle between rival army factions that erupted in April this yr.
Niger has held strategic significance for France, the previous colonizer that has confronted rising discontent from neighboring international locations of Niger lately. France withdrew troops from Mali and Burkina Faso, after relationships with army juntas there soured.
Final yr, the European Union pledged to offer $1.3 billion to shift Niger’s economic system away from oil. Throughout a go to to the nation in March, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken introduced $150 million in humanitarian help to Niger and neighboring international locations.
In assertion, the State Division stated it was “gravely involved” about occasions in Niger and condemned “any effort to grab energy by drive and disrupt the constitutional order.” It made a name for Mr. Bazoum’s speedy launch that was repeated by Jake Sullivan, the nationwide safety adviser on the White Home, who referred to as Niger “a essential companion for america.”
Ulf Laessing, the top of the Sahel program on the Konrad Adenauer Basis, famous in an interview on Wednesday that Niamey was calm when he traveled there final week.
However he stated that Mr. Bazoum might have confronted rising discontent from components of the army that haven’t obtained funding from Western companions. He added that many Nigeriens, particularly in Niamey, are struggling hardship amid elements together with a rising value of dwelling.
Lynsey Chutel contributed reporting from Johannesburg and Eric Schmitt from Washington.
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