Niger President Mohamed Bazoum held by guards

Presidential guards in Niger are holding President Mohamed Bazoum and have blockaded his residence, as well as key ministries, reports say.

No shots were fired and it’s not clear if this is an attempt by the presidential guard to seize power.

The president’s office tweeted that the guards unsuccessfully tried to get support from the military in their “anti-republican” efforts.

One unnamed source told AFP the move was a “fit of temper” by troops.

Reports said the immediate former president, Mohammed Issoufou, and other former leaders were involved in talks to stop the situation from escalating, but it is not clear if those talks are still taking place.

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A source who AFP cites as close to the president has said that the talks broke down and that the guards, who have refused to release the president, have been issued an ultimatum by the army.

“The President of the Republic and his family are doing well. The Army and the National Guard are ready to attack” those involved in this incident, the president’s office added in a tweet.

The landlocked West African state has experienced four coups since independence from France in 1960, as well as numerous attempted coups.

President Bazoum, who was democratically elected in 2021, is a close ally of France.

The country’s last coup occurred in February 2010, overturning then President Mamadou Tandja.

Niger is grappling with two jihadist campaigns – one in the south-west, which swept in from neighbouring Mali in 2015, and the other in the south-east, involving jihadists based in north-eastern Nigeria.

Militant groups allied to both al-Qaeda and Islamic State are active in the country.

Two neighbouring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced coups recently triggered by jihadist uprisings.