Niger President Mohamed Bazoum is being detained by members of the Presidential Guard, who have been given an “ultimatum” by the army, a source close to Bazoum said on Wednesday.
Recall that guard members sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices and, after talks broke down, “refused to release the president,” a source said.
Access was sealed off to Bazoum’s official home and offices in the presidential complex in Niamey.
However, there was no abnormal military deployment or sounds of gunfire in the area, and traffic was regular, according to reports.
The country’s last coup occurred in February 2010, overthrowing then-president Mamadou Tandja.
However, according to a security source, there was an attempted putsch on March 31, 2021, just two days before Bazoum’s inauguration.
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Several people were arrested, including the suspected ringleader, an Air Force captain named Sani Gourouza.
He was arrested in neighbouring Benin and handed over to the Niger authorities.
[…] earlier reported that Bazoum had been held hostage by troops from the presidential […]