On July 26, Niger's presidential guard detained President Mohamed Bazoum. The guard's commander, Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, proclaimed himself the country's new leader.

Niger Self-Proclaimed Leader Warns ECOWAS Against Military Intervention

10:23, 30 July 2023

Gleb Chugunov

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On 26 July, the Niger military, during a speech on national television, stated that President Mohamed Bazoum had been deposed, the borders were closed, and a curfew had been declared. Before that, the military of the Presidential Guard blocked the presidential palace in the capital Niamey.

Sputnik

The commander of the Niger Presidential Guard, General Omar Tchiani, who is the self-proclaimed leader of the country, warned the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) and its allies against military intervention in Niger.

According to media, citing a representative of the organization, Amos Lungu, the ECOWAS will hold an emergency summit on the situation in Niger, where the military removed President Mohamed Bazoum from power. The meeting will take place on Sunday in the neighboring Nigeria's capital Abuja.

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"We warn ECOWAS and its allies against any military intervention in the city of Niamey, so we will be obliged to defend ourselves to the last of our strength," Tchiani said on social media.

First, Bazoum's office said that the army did not support the rebels, but later the command of the Armed Forces declared solidarity with them. The president is still being held in residence. Bazoum is fine, he feels well, Chairman of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat told Sputnik.