{Photo courtesy of Financial Times}
By Samuel Owino
Troops from the presidential guard of Niger have declared a coup on Wednesday 26 July 2023 after holding the president and key ministries hostage.
Col Maj Amadou Abdramane and nine others soldiers from the presidential guard, declared on national television that they have put an end to the government regime.
“We, the defence and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime you know.” Maj Amadou said.
“This follows the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance.” He continued.
He also said that said that the soldiers were acting for the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP)
The African Union and the western bloc, ECOWAS have commented, rebuking these actions to seize power by force.
The attempted coup in Niger marks the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020, making the efforts to promote stability by the western forces in the Sahel region much harder.
The country has remained largely peaceful since the coup announcement. On Thursday however, supporters of the coup set fire to the ruling party’s headquarters in the country’s capital, Niamey, after the army command declared its backing for the coup.
The country’s last coup occurred in 2010, overturning then President, Mamadou Tandja.