Niger military says French aircraft made incursion into country
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The Nigerien military claims that France made an incursion into the country's airspace, which is shuttered in light of an ongoing mutiny.
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With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, July 27, 2023 (AP)
Nigerien military rebels reported on Thursday that a French military aircraft violated Niger's air border closure, which had been implemented in response to the recent coup in the country.
The National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland, which is now in de facto control of Niger, made this claim during a televised address.
According to the rebels, the French aircraft, identified as an A400M military plane, landed at Niamey's international airport at 6:30 AM local time (05:30 GMT), despite the order to close both air and land borders.
The coup unfolded on Wednesday when members of the Nigerien presidential guard announced on national television that they had ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. Subsequently, they closed the country's borders and imposed a curfew "until further notice."
The coup came shortly after the presidential guard detained President Bazoum at his residence and sealed off access to public offices in the capital city, Niamey.
Local media reported that the mutiny was triggered by President Bazoum's alleged plan to dismiss General Omar Tchiani, the commander of the presidential guard.
Bazoum said he and his family were in a safe condition after the mutiny had ended, as per the Presidential office.
However, Niger's government appears to have been overthrown in a coup led by members of the Presidential Guard.
Soldiers claimed to have overthrown Niger's government following an apparent mutiny in the West African nation on Wednesday when members of the Presidential Guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum.
The soldiers have declared the suspension of all institutions, closed borders, and imposed a curfew. They cited reasons such as the deteriorating security situation and poor economic and social governance as justification for ending President Bazoum's rule.
"On Wednesday morning, elements of the presidential guard began a mutiny, trying in vain to gather the support of the national armed forces and the national guard," the office said on Twitter.
The President's office refuted the "coup", attributing it to a "fit of temper" by elements of the Presidential Guard. Supporters who tried to approach the official complex were dispersed with warning shots, resulting in one person being injured.
Niger's ruling coalition parties denounced the mutiny, and international bodies like ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union, the US Secretary of State, and the UN Secretary-General have all condemned the attempted "coup" and called for President Bazoum's immediate release.
President Bazoum, who took office in 2021, inheriting a country stricken with poverty and insurgencies, has received regional and global leaders' calls for his release.
President Talon will arrive in Niamey for mediation efforts, seeking to find an agreement between the Presidential Guard and President Bazoum. France's foreign minister also expressed condemnation for attempts to seize power forcefully.
Niger, a landlocked Sahel state, has a history of political instability, with four coups and several other attempted coups since gaining independence in 1960. President Bazoum, a former interior minister, was the close associate of former President Mahamadou Issoufou, who voluntarily stepped down after serving two terms in office.
Before Bazoum's inauguration, there was an attempted coup, resulting in several arrests, including the suspected ringleader, who was later sentenced to 20 years in prison in February. Another bid to oust Bazoum occurred in March, but the authorities never publicly commented on the incident.
Niger faces significant challenges, including widespread poverty and insurgencies. Two-thirds of the country is desert, and it often ranks low on the UN's Human Development Index, indicating a lack of prosperity. The nation is grappling with insurgents from neighboring Mali and northeastern Nigeria, resulting in large-scale displacement of people, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, and putting strain on the economy.
