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's Foreign Ministry Cancels Nearly 1,000 Diplomatic Passports: Reports

09:29, 15 September 2023

CC BY-SA 4.0 / NigerTZai / Nine flags of Niger

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – On July 26, a coup took place in Niger. The president Bazoum was ousted and detained by his guard, led by Gen. Tchiani. Following the coup, the ECOWAS suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened intervention if the rebels did not reinstate Bazoum.

Sputnik

The Nigerien Foreign Ministry has canceled nearly 1,000 diplomatic passports issued to citizens of Niger and other countries due to their expiration, the Nigerien Press Agency (ANP) reported Thursday.

The ministry has announced the cancellation of over 992 diplomatic passports, including over 368 diplomatic passports issued to former ministers, lawmakers and other officials, the report said.

As many as 50 of the 368 diplomatic passports had been issued to foreign nationals, reports said.

Situation in Niger After Military Coup

Biden Positively Assesses Nigerian Leader's ECOWAS Chairmanship on Niger

11 September 2023, 09:55

ANP reported in early September that Niger's foreign ministry canceled the diplomatic passports of several officials appointed by the country's previous authorities, including the prime minister and the foreign minister.

The western African nation has been ruled by the military after an elite guard force deposed Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum in late July, prompting the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to threaten a military intervention.