Niger: Soldiers say President Amadou Abdramane has been removed by coup d’etat
Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president’s residence and offices in the capital Niamey on Wednesday, and after talks broke down “refused to release the president”, a presidential source said.
“We, the defence and security forces … have decided to put an end to the regime” of President Bazoum, said Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane in a televised address, surrounded by nine other uniformed soldiers.
They said “all institutions” in the country would be suspended, borders were closed, and a curfew had been imposed “until further notice”.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union both decried what they called an “attempted coup d’état”.