“We won’t tolerate coups in our region” – Tinubu
Soldiers belonging to Niger’s presidential guard have surrounded and restricted access to President Mohamed Bazoum’s office and residence, in what appears to be a possible coup d’état.
The reason for the move, which happened on Wednesday morning, is still unclear.
A source said disgruntled members of the guard sealed off access to the President’s residence and offices, and, after talks broke down, they “refused to release the president.
“The army has given them an ultimatum,” the source said.
The West African country is one of the most unstable nations in the world, experiencing four coups since independence from France in 1960.
Previous coups in Burkina Faso and Mali were triggered in part by frustrations over authorities’ failure to stem an Islamist insurgency nagging the Sahel region, which includes Niger.
There was also a thwarted coup attempt in Niger in March 2021, when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace, days before Bazoum was due to be sworn in.
Meanwhile, Bola Tinubu has issues a stern warning to the mutineers, saying the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, under his leadership, would not tolerate actions that incapacitate democratically-elected government in the sub-region.
He described the blockade of the presidential palace in Niamey by soldiers as ‘unpleasant developments’.
Meanwhile, Tinubu’s statement read: “I wish to say that we are closely monitoring the situation and developments in Niger and we will do everything within our powers to ensure democracy is firmly planted, nurtured, well rooted and thrives in our region.
“I am in close consultation with other leaders in our region, and we shall protect our hard-earned democracy in line with the universally acceptable principle of constitutionalism.
“As the Chairperson of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, I state without equivocation that Nigeria stands firmly with the elected government in Niger and equally conveys the absolute resolve of leaders in our sub-region that we shall not waiver or flinch on our stand to defend and preserve constitutional order.”
