Niger soldiers' coup attempt condemned

Immediate release urged after leader held hostage, sparking wide concerns

The international community condemned actions by Nigerien soldiers after they announced a military takeover on the country's national television on Wednesday.

In a televised address, the soldiers, led by Colonel Amadou Abdramane, said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation's borders.

Flanked by nine other officers, Abdramane said defense and security forces had decided to put an end to the government led by the country's President Mohamed Bazoum due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance. He added that all institutions in the country were suspended, and a curfew was imposed on the entire country from 10 pm to 5 am until further notice.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres joined other world leaders in condemning the move by the soldiers.

"I condemn in the strongest terms any effort to seize power by force and to undermine democratic governance, peace and stability in Niger. The United Nations stands by the government and the people of Niger," Guterres said in a statement on X, which was formerly known as Twitter.

UN human rights chief Volker Turk said in a statement on Thursday: "President Mohamed Bazoum must be immediately and unconditionally released, and his security ensured. The arbitrarily detained members of his government and their relatives must also be released forthwith, and without preconditions."

The European Union also on Thursday demanded the "immediate release" of Bazoum and his family.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, also said in a statement that the African Union condemned the "coup attempt" and called on Nigeriens and Africans to join their voices in unanimous condemnation of the "coup attempt". He further called for the immediate and unconditional return of the "felon soldiers" to their barracks.

The Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS, called for Bazoum's immediate and unconditional release and warned all those involved would be held responsible for his safety.

"ECOWAS and the international community will hold all those involved in the plot responsible for the security and safety of the president, his family, members of the government and the general public," the body said in a statement.

The European Union, France and others condemned the coup attempt and said they were following the events with concern.

Xinhua News Agency reported that Bazoum was being held hostage with his wife at his residence in the palace in the capital Niamey, after negotiations with the head of the presidential guard were stalled.

Bazoum was elected in 2021 as president of Niger, a landlocked West African state that has so far witnessed four coups since its independence from France in 1960.

Safety notice issued

China's embassy in Niger on Thursday posted a message on its website reminding all overseas Chinese citizens in Niger to be vigilant, strengthen protection, avoid going out and take safety precautions.

The president of neighboring Benin, Patrice Talon, said he was on his way to Niger to assess the situation after meeting with Nigeria's president and ECOWAS chairman Bola Tinubu.

"All means will be used, if necessary, to restore constitutional order in Niger, but the ideal would be for everything to be done in peace and harmony," Talon told reporters in Abuja.

The neighboring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso have both experienced military coups in the past few years in the wake of growing jihadist insurgencies which have destabilized the entire region.

Lying in the heart of the arid Sahel region, Niger is two-thirds desert and persistently ranks at the bottom, or near it, on the UN's Human Development Index, a benchmark of prosperity.

Agencies and Xinhua contributed to this story.