The Nigerien Foreign Ministry has revoked the diplomatic passports of a number of officials, including former Prime Minister Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou and ex-Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou, who were appointed by the previous authorities, media reported on Friday.
"These are the diplomatic passports of former Prime Minister Mahamadou Ouhoumoudou, former Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massaoudou, former Nigerien Ambassador to France Aichatou Boulama Kane, former presidential office's minister-adviser Rhissa Ag Boula and former deputy chief of the Nigerien presidential office Djibo Takoubakoye Daouda," the Nigerien Press Agency cited a letter from Nigerien Foreign Minister Yaou Sangare Bakary to the heads of Nigerien diplomatic missions and consular offices abroad.
The new foreign minister asked the heads of the Nigerien diplomatic missions to inform their countries' authorities about the revocation of the passports.
A coup took place in Niger on July 26. Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani. The coup leader was appointed head of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), while Ali Lamine Zeine, a previous finance minister, was named interim prime minister.
Following the coup, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened invasion if the putschists do not reinstate Bazoum.
In early August, during a summit in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, ECOWAS leaders agreed to activate a standby force to potentially compel the Nigerien military to reinstate Bazoum. On August 18, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said the bloc's chiefs of staff had agreed on a date for an invasion of Niger, but would not make it public.