By: News Peddlers
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| Plotters of the Niger Coup |
Military officers in Niger Republic have deposed President Mohammed Bazoum's government.
On Wednesday night, soldiers took over official television and declared a successful operation in the West African country. The news came just hours after Mr Bazoum was detained inside the presidential palace in Niamey.
Colonel Amadou Abdramane, who appeared to be one of the coup leaders, stood in the centre during the announcement, flanked by nine other officers in military fatigues.
Mr Abdramane addressed Mr Bazoum directly, stating that the military took power to "put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance."
Despite significant outrage over his imprisonment, Mr Bazoum was eventually removed. President Bola Tinubu immediately rejected previous military coup attempts and dispatched a delegation to the nation, Nigeria's northern neighbour.
Mr Tinubu had earlier this month warned that West African states will no longer tolerate violent power grabs in the sub-region.
In a phone chat earlier Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed Washington's "unwavering support" for Mr Bazoum.
The military junta promptly proclaimed the immediate closing of the country's borders as well as an indefinite statewide curfew.
Mr. Bazoum was sworn in on April 2, 2021. On March 31, 2021, just two days before his inauguration, he survived a coup attempt. Today's coup was Niger's first successful coup since 2010.