Soldiers in Niger claimed to have removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power late on Wednesday, hours after members of the presidential guard detained the politician at his official residence.
In a statement broadcast on national television, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane said that “the defence and security forces … have decided to put an end to the regime you are familiar with”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a telephone conversation with Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum, stressed that Washington's further cooperation with Niger will depend on further democratic governance in the republic.
This is according to statement released by the press service of the US Department of State. It was published after the military in Niger announced on national television that Bazoum had been removed from power and the borders of the republic had been closed.
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Niger's presidential guard imposed a blockade on the presidency since 10 p.m., local time, Tuesday, a presidency staff told Xinhua Wednesday.
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An official of Niger's security department told Xinhua in a telephone interview that Bazoum has spoken to other members of his party, saying that "freedom will be restored soon."
Bazoum came to power on April 2, 2021, replacing Mahamadou Issoufou.