Abdourahamane Zakaria, a Nigerien government spokesman has confirmed in a news conference that heavy gunfire heard outside Niger’s presidential palace in the wee hours of today, 31st March, was in a failed coup attempt.
The government spokesman said the situation is now under control, adding that both Niger’s outgoing and incoming presidents are safe. He also revealed that several people were arrested and others are on the run.
The incident comes two days before the swearing in of President-elect, Mohamed Bazoum. The former interior minister succeeds President Mahamadou Issoufou, who is stepping down after two five-year terms.
According to reports from local media, heavy gunfire started around 3am local time (02:00 GMT) and lasted for about 30 minutes. Also, in short video clips posted on social networks, sporadic bursts of gunfire could be heard in the darkness.
Bazoum’s inauguration on April 2 will mark the country’s first transfer of power from one democratically elected leader to another. This feat, won Issoufou, the outgoing President, the coveted Mo Ibrahim Prize – Africa’s top prize for leadership, earlier this month.
The US embassy in Niamey, Niger’s capital put out a security alert saying it would be closed “due to gunshots heard near our neighbourhood”.
“The security situation throughout Niger remains fluid in the post-election period with the possibility of unrest and/or intercommunal clashes around the country. There may be a corresponding increase in police presence and traffic delays on major roads. Please exercise caution.”
The embassy also entreated “all personnel to stay home until further notice.”
Unrest and violence following election runoff
There have been growing attacks by armed groups in the country following Bazoum’s victory in last month’s presidential election runoff. Former President, Mahamane Ousmane, who lost in the runoff, has rejected the results, alleging fraud.
Last week, Niger’s constitutional court confirmed Bazoum’s victory in the presidential runoff. This allows for the swearing in of the ruling party’s candidate into office on April 2.
As a result, Ousmane called for “peaceful marches” across the country. However, a planned opposition protest initially scheduled for today, was banned a day earlier by authorities.
Meanwhile. gunmen on motorcycles attacked a series of villages located near the border with Mali, leaving at least 137 people dead. The country’s “deadliest violence in decades” came on 21st March, the same day the court certified Bazoum’s electoral victory.
In the aftermath of the attack, UN Secretary-General, Antóno Guterres strongly condemned “another heinous attack” against civilians in Niger. He called on countries in the Sahel region to continue their efforts “to address these serious threats to security and stability in the sub-region and beyond”.
Niger, one of the poorest countries in the world, has suffered numerous coups in its history. The most recent was the ousting of then-President, Mamadou Tandja from office in February 2010.
The country is also fighting two jihadist insurgencies that have forced hundreds of thousands to flee their homes.
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