Soldiers Arrested For ‘Attempted Coup’ In Niger Two Days To Presidential Inauguration

A security source disclosed that some soldiers have been
arrested after heavy gunfire broke out in the early hours of
Wednesday in Niger capital, Niamey.

He, however, added that the ‘situation is under control.’

Residents reported hearing overnight bursts of gunfire near the
presidency, just two days before Mohamed Bazoum is due to be
inaugurated as President of the country.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source said:

“There were some arrests among a few members of the army who are
behind this attempted coup.

“The Presidential Guard retaliated, preventing this group of
soldiers from approaching the presidential palace.”

A resident of Niamey’s Plateau district, which includes the
president’s official residence and offices said:

“It was around 3.00 am, we heard shots from heavy and light
weapons and it lasted 15 minutes before stopping, followed by shots
from light weapons.”

“The gunfire lasted about 20 minutes,” another resident
said.

A third resident spoke of “intense shooting, with heavy and
light weapons”.

Media reports reported that calm had returned by around 4.00
am.

In short video clips posted on social networks, only several
seconds in length, sporadic bursts of gunfire could be heard in the
pitch dark.

It was not yet possible to independently verify the location and
timing of the videos.

The alleged coup comes ahead of Bazoum’s scheduled inauguration
on Friday — the first elected transition in Niger’s history since
independence from France in 1960.

Bazoum is a former interior minister and right-hand man of
outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou, who is voluntarily stepping
down after two five-year terms.

His victory in the second round of the election on February 2
was confirmed by the constitutional court this month.

The results were contested by Bazoum’s rival, former president
Mahamane Ousmane, who claimed he was the real winner.

Ousmane had called for “peaceful marches” across the country,
but a planned opposition protest Wednesday in Niamey was banned a
day earlier by authorities.

Niger is the poorest country in the world, according to the
benchmark of the UN’s 189-nation Human Development Index.

It has suffered four coups in its history, most recently a
February 2010 putsch which toppled then president Mamadou
Tandja.

The Sahel country has also recently been struck by repeated
jihadist attacks as Islamist movements have spilled over from
neighbouring Mali and Nigeria.

A security source disclosed that some soldiers have been
arrested after heavy gunfire broke out in the early hours of
Wednesday in Niger capital, Niamey.

He, however, added that the ‘situation is under control.’

Residents reported hearing overnight bursts of gunfire near the
presidency, just two days before Mohamed Bazoum is due to be
inaugurated as President of the country.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source said:

“There were some arrests among a few members of the army who are
behind this attempted coup.

“The Presidential Guard retaliated, preventing this group of
soldiers from approaching the presidential palace.”

A resident of Niamey’s Plateau district, which includes the
president’s official residence and offices said:

“It was around 3.00 am, we heard shots from heavy and light
weapons and it lasted 15 minutes before stopping, followed by shots
from light weapons.”

“The gunfire lasted about 20 minutes,” another resident
said.

A third resident spoke of “intense shooting, with heavy and
light weapons”.

Media reports reported that calm had returned by around 4.00
am.

In short video clips posted on social networks, only several
seconds in length, sporadic bursts of gunfire could be heard in the
pitch dark.

It was not yet possible to independently verify the location and
timing of the videos.

The alleged coup comes ahead of Bazoum’s scheduled inauguration
on Friday — the first elected transition in Niger’s history since
independence from France in 1960.

Bazoum is a former interior minister and right-hand man of
outgoing president Mahamadou Issoufou, who is voluntarily stepping
down after two five-year terms.

His victory in the second round of the election on February 2
was confirmed by the constitutional court this month.

The results were contested by Bazoum’s rival, former president
Mahamane Ousmane, who claimed he was the real winner.

Ousmane had called for “peaceful marches” across the country,
but a planned opposition protest Wednesday in Niamey was banned a
day earlier by authorities.

Niger is the poorest country in the world, according to the
benchmark of the UN’s 189-nation Human Development Index.

It has suffered four coups in its history, most recently a
February 2010 putsch which toppled then president Mamadou
Tandja.

The Sahel country has also recently been struck by repeated
jihadist attacks as Islamist movements have spilled over from
neighbouring Mali and Nigeria.