Niger: "disturbances" at the presidential guardhouse, "talks" under way
Access to Niger's presidency in Niamey was blocked on Wednesday due to a "strike" by the presidential guard for an unspecified reason, a source close to the presidency told AFP, adding that "talks" were underway.
"This is a mood movement by the presidential guard, but talks are underway with the president," Mohammed Bazoum told the source, saying that "the president is fine, he is safe and sound".
"He and his family are at the residence," the source added on condition of anonymity.
Initially, no information was released about the content of these "conversations".
"I have spoken to the president and ministerial friends, and they are fine," said a deputy from the ruling National Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS).
Access to the residence of Niger's president, Mohammed Bazoum, as well as to the compound's offices, located on the same perimeter, was banned on Wednesday morning.
On the other hand, no special military force was visible in the area where the presidency is located, traffic was normal and no shots were heard, an AFP journalist noted.
Niger, one of France's privileged partners in the Sahel region ravaged by jihadist violence in several parts of its territory, is led by democratically elected President Mohammed Bazoum, who will take office in April 2021.
The history of this vast, poor and desert-like country is dotted with coups d'état.
There have been four since the former French colony gained independence in 1960: the first in April 1974 against President Diori Hamani, and the most recent in February 2010, which overthrew President Mamadou Tandja. Not to mention the numerous coup attempts.
Coups d'état aborted in 2021 and 2022
On 31 March 2021, the Nigerian government announced the arrest of several people following an alleged coup attempt, two days before the inauguration of President Mohammed Bazoum.
The alleged "mastermind" of the coup attempt, Sani Gourouza, an air force captain, was arrested in neighbouring Benin and handed over to the Nigerian authorities.
Last April, Ousmane Cissé, Niger's former Interior Minister during the military transition (2010-2011), was jailed for his alleged involvement in the failed coup.
According to a Nigerien official, the arrest "was also linked to a last failed coup in March 2022, when President Bazoum was in Turkey", but the authorities had not made any public statement about this second failed coup.
In January 2018, nine soldiers and one civilian were sentenced by a Nigerian military court to prison terms ranging from five to 15 years for attempting to overthrow former president Mahamadou Issoufou, Mohammed Bazoum's predecessor, in 2015.
Among the convicted military officers is General Souleymane Salou, former chief of staff and former member of the junta that overthrew President Mamadou Tandja.