Soldiers in Niger have declared their takeover of power, detaining President Mohamed Bazoum since Wednesday.
The military announced the coup via a televised broadcast early on Thursday.
During the broadcast, ten military officers addressed President Bazoum directly, stating their seizure of power was to end the regime due to the “deteriorating security situation and bad governance.”
In their announcement, they declared the constitution dissolved, all institutions suspended, and the country’s borders closed.
Despite significant condemnation of his detention, President Bazoum was ultimately deposed.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria on Wednesday rejected the military’s attempts to seize power and dispatched a delegation to Niger, its northern neighbour.
Tinubu had previously warned that West African nations would no longer tolerate violent power seizures in the region.
President Bazoum took office on April 2, 2021, and successfully thwarted a coup attempt just two days before his inauguration on March 31, 2021.
This event marks Niger’s first successful coup since 2010.
The military had earlier cordoned off Bazoum’s office and residence.
Bazoum was detained by the Presidential guard after negotiations between the President and the army broke down.
In the capital city, Niamey, crowds took to the streets in support of the detained president.
