Niger soldiers claim to overthrow President Mohamed Bazoum

Supporters of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum gather to show their support for him in Niamey on July 26, 2023. [Via VOA]

The United Nations and the United States have called for the release of Niger's president, Mohamed Bazoum after a group of soldiers claimed to have removed him from power.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters Thursday in New Zealand that he had spoken with Bazoum and "made clear that the United States resolutely supports him as the democratically elected president of Niger."

"Whether this constitutes a coup technically or not, I can't say, that's for the lawyers to say, but what it clearly constitutes is an effort to seize power by force and to disrupt the constitution," Blinken said.

Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said in a statement late Wednesday that the United Nations "stands in solidarity with the democratically elected government and people of Niger."

Dujarric said Guterres is "deeply concerned" about Bazoum's detention and called for his release without preconditions.

The situation began Wednesday when the soldiers used national television to announce that they ousted Bazoum.

"We, the defense and security forces ... decided to put an end to the regime," said Colonel Amadou Abdramane, shown seated and flanked by nine other officers wearing fatigues, reading a statement. His statement also mentioned "the deteriorating security situation and bad governance."

Abdramane said all institutions of the republic were suspended, that the country's borders were closed, and a nationwide curfew declared.

The soldiers warned against foreign intervention, and said they would respect Bazoum's well-being, Reuters reported. The Associated Press reported that it was unclear where Bazoum was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned.

Hours earlier, members of Niger's presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace in what African organizations called an attempted coup against Bazoum, the country's democratically elected leader.

The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, also condemned the events in Niger and called on what it described as coup plotters to free the president "immediately and without any condition."

The ECOWAS statement vowed to hold those involved in the plot responsible for the safety of the president, his family, members of the government, and the general public.

Others condemning the apparent coup attempt included the chairman of the African Union Commission, Faki Mahamat, and former colonial power France, which has about 1,500 soldiers in Niger helping the government battle Islamist militants.

Local journalist Ousseini Issa told VOA's French to Africa service the situation in Niamey is "confusing."

"At first, the presidency was out of reach, including for agents who work there," Issa said. "Then, we got the news that soldiers based in Ouallam, about 100 kilometers from Niamey ... have come to Niamey. The whole presidential area is cordoned off; all services are closed."

Niger's presidential administration said elements of the presidential guard launched what it called an anti-republican movement on Wednesday morning and "tried in vain to obtain the support of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard."

Abdoul Aziz Garba Birimaka, Niger's presidential special security adviser, told VOA's French to Africa service the main question is what led to the attempted coup.

"Indeed, that is the question, what led us to this extreme? What is happening? Why? ... How could all this have happened without any suspicions as we learn that someone who is supposed to protect is now holding you [against your will]," Birimaka said. "Those are many questions that remain unanswered for the moment."

The West African state is one of the region's most unstable, experiencing four military coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, and a number of unsuccessful coup attempts.

Elements of the military launched a failed coup d'etat two days before Bazoum's inauguration in April 2021.

Michael Shurkin, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, told VOA, "President Bazoum has been one of the most effective leaders in the area, if not the most effective leader. He's somebody who by many standards is doing all the right things in terms of trying to deal with the country's vast problems and working effectively with Niger's many Western security partners, including France in the United States."

He said, "A coup removes from the region a democratically elected and effective civilian official, replacing it with, first of all, a necessary period of uncertainty as the Nigeriens have to figure out what to do and make all the next steps. ... Also, it's a huge blow to the West, which has really been turning to [Niger] to presume that sort of like it's its last effort to try to shape events in the Sahel as the Sahel otherwise has been swirling down the drain."