President Bazoum of Niger removed from power
A nationwide curfew has also been declared across the country
The military of the republic of Niger announced that the country’s president Mohamed Bazoum has been removed from power and the country’s borders have ben closed, Reuters reported referring to a statement made by the military on national television.
The country’s borders are closed and a nationwide curfew declared, the agency quoted the military as saying.
On July 26, a group of Presidential Guard servicemen blocked the presidential palace in Niamey, holding the president and his family hostage. The rebels are also holding the Minister of the Interior.
Niger special operations forces that had remained loyal to President Mohamed Bazoum had taken positions around national TV and radio buildings in the capital city of Niamey, as reported by RFI.
Meanwhile, Al Jazeera had reported that additional special operations units had started arriving in Niamey from the west.
Previously, the presidential administration had announced that army units refused to support the rebellion, started by the presidential guard. According to the administration, national armed forces were ready to act against the rebels, if the latter refuse to return to their barracks.
“The army presented the rebels with an ultimatum,” AFP quotes one administration official as saying.
