In a significant development, soldiers in Niger successfully carried out a coup, as announced on national TV, resulting in the dissolution of the country's constitution. This marks the sixth coup in the West Africa subregion since August 2020.
The coup was led by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, who declared the overthrow of the existing regime and imposed the closure of all West African borders. During a statement broadcast on national television, Mr. Abdramane asserted that the defense and security forces had taken the decision to put an end to the familiar government.
Earlier, there was a report on the attempted coup in Niger, where soldiers blocked access to the presidential palace, and President Mohammed Bazoum was believed to be held inside. The situation has drawn condemnation from world leaders, including Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu, who expressed their firm disapproval and stated that such actions would not be tolerated.
Various international bodies, such as the US, France, UN, ECOWAS, and the African Union, have also condemned the coup and called for a restoration of the status quo. The citizens of Niger have taken to the streets in protests against the coup.
In response to the crisis, ECOWAS, led by President Bola Tinubu, dispatched the President of Benin, Patrice Talon, to Niger to act as a mediator. Mr. Talon briefly met with President Tinubu in Abuja before heading to Niger for his mediation efforts.
As of now, it remains unclear if President Talon has had the opportunity to meet with the coup leaders or the deposed President Mohammed Bazoum. The situation continues to evolve, and the international community closely monitors the developments in Niger.
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