Niger Foils ‘Coup Attempt’ Days Before Presidential Inauguration

Plans by a military unit which tried to seize the presidential palace in Niger’s capital Niamey overnight in an attempted coup have been foiled and order has been restored.

Government spokesman Abdourahamane Zakaria, in a statement condemned what he described as a cowardly and regressive act which was a threat to democracy and the state of law.

He said several people had been arrested while others were still being sought, but that the situation was under control

Elsewhere, three security sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the assailants, from a nearby air base, fled after the presidential guard met their attack with heavy shelling and gunfire.

There were however no comments on the whereabouts of president-elect Mohamed Bazoum, who is due to be sworn in on Friday following an election victory disputed by his opponent Mahamane Ousmane.

Former president Mahamane Ousmane, who lost in the runoff, has rejected the results and said there was fraud while President Mahamadou Issoufou is stepping down after two five-year terms.

There have been growing attacks in Niger by Islamist militants, and political tensions in the country following Bazoum’s victory in a February presidential election runoff.