NIAMEY: Supporters of a coup in Niger set fire to the headquarters of the ruling party in the country’s capital city Niamey on Thursday after the military declared its backing for the takeover carried out by troops of the presidential guard.
Niger: Pro-Coup People Set Fire to Ruling Party Headquarters
Clouds of black smoke billowed from the compound, western media reported, after hundreds of pro-coup people who had gathered in front of the country’s National Assembly moved towards the ruling party headquarters. However, Police personnel dispersed them with volleys of teargas, Reuter reported.
As per media reports, the crowd also played pro-army music. Some supporters waved Russian flags and also chanted anti-French slogans, echoing an increasing wave of resentment towards ex-colonial power France and its influence in the region.
In a statement signed by the African country’s chief of army staff, the army said it had “decided to adhere to the … declaration” made by troops who announced in a late-night televised address that they had deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
It added that the army’s priority was to avoid destabilizing the nation and it needed to “preserve the integrity” of the president and his family and avoid “a deadly conflict … that could create a massacre and affect the security of the public”.
Read Also: Niger Military Chief Backs Coup Leaders, President Bazoum Defiant Amid Turmoil
However, it was not immediately clear who would take over from President Bazoum.
The coup attempt has prompted a regional and international backlash, with condemnation from the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and global leaders. The situation remains tense as the coup leaders, 10 men in military uniform led by Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, continue to hold power.
Niger, one of the world’s poorest and most unstable countries, has a history of coup attempts, and this latest incident threatens to exacerbate the already challenging security and humanitarian situation. President Bazoum’s defiance and the coup attempt have drawn global attention and concern, with many leaders calling for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.
