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Tag: Niger coup

  • We’ll never return to ECOWAS, Niger Republic coup leader vows

    We’ll never return to ECOWAS, Niger Republic coup leader vows

    …says allowing Bazoum to go will be counterproductive

    The leader of the military junta in Niger, Abdourahamane Tchiani, has vowed that the country will not rejoin the Economic Community of West African States.

    He also vowed that none of the three Sahel nations would rejoin the ECOWAS.

    Tchiani stated this on Monday in an interview he granted to the RTN news channel in the country’s capital Niamey.

    The military regimes in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger in January, declared their immediate withdrawal from ECOWAS, saying that it was a “sovereign decision” to leave the ECOWAS “without delay”.

    They claimed that ECOWAS had become a threat to its member states.

    “Eager to achieve integration between the states of the sub-region and driven by the ideals of brotherhood, solidarity, mutual aid, peace and development, their Excellencies General Aboubacar Sangoulé Lamizana, General Moussa Traoré and Lieutenant Colonel Seyni Kountchė, respectively Heads of State of Upper Volta (current Burkina Faso), Mali and Niger, created with 12 of their peers, on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, the Economic Community of West African States.

    “After 49 years of existence, the valiant people of Burkina, Mali and Niger note with much regret, bitterness and great disappointment that their organisation has moved away from the ideals of its founding fathers and pan-Africanism.”

    However, the ECOWAS Commission said it was not aware of the withdrawal of the three countries.

    It added that “Burkina Faso, Niger, and Mali remain important members of the Community and the Authority.”

    On the consequences of its withdrawal on security, trade and socio-economic activities, Tchiani said, “Now the world is a global village and is the world within ECOWAS? So, God will feed every human He created.

    “We would never release Bazoum. Setting Bazoum free is akin to stabbing ourselves in the stomach which would harm Nigeriens,” he added.

  • Leave our country: Niger junta cuts off electricity and water supplies to French Embassy

    Leave our country: Niger junta cuts off electricity and water supplies to French Embassy

    …vow to treat those who to restore services as enemies of state

     

    Niger Republic junta has cut off electricity and water supplies to the French Embassy in Niamey with no food deliveries allowed.

    Turkish news platform, Anadolu, reported that the junta had also taken similar action at the French consulate in Zinder, Tera, Oualam, Ayorou, Dosso, Niamey, Filingue and everywhere else.

    It was gathered that President of the National Support Committee for the CNSP Elh Issa Hassoumi Boureima, asked all partners of the French bases in Niger to suspend all fuel supplies of water, electricity and food products.

    Boureima said; “We ask Nigelec and SPEN (SEEN)) to cut off water and electricity in the French Embassy, in the French consulates of Zinder and Niamey.

    “In addition, any partners who continue to help the French in the process of supplying the goods and services will be considered enemies of the sovereign people.”

    This is coming after the expiration of the two-day deadline given by the military junta to the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, to leave Nigerien territory.

  • LOOMING WAR! Ghana President, Akufo-Addo to lead his soldiers to Niger Republic

    LOOMING WAR! Ghana President, Akufo-Addo to lead his soldiers to Niger Republic

    To demonstrate his support for the ECOWAS decision to send troops to the West African nation, President Nana Akufo-Addo has been urged to lead Ghana’s army to Niger and fight to restore democracy.

    In order to put an end to the coup and restore democracy in Niger, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) decided to send troops there.

    This choice was made by the ECOWAS command following a meeting on Friday in Accra.

    Surprisingly, 52% of Ghanaians who took part in a Global Info Analytics Survey opined that their country should not support any military action in Niger.

    On Monday, Odike said the President should lead the troops on the ground rather than just talk the talk.

    “He shouldn’t stay home and command on paper. He should seek to prove his worth by leading the troops on ground” he said.

    He continues to believe that the use of force was unnecessary in this situation.

  • Niger coup: We only declared France Ambassador persona non grata, Nig, US not involved

    Niger coup: We only declared France Ambassador persona non grata, Nig, US not involved

    The Niger Republic Foreign Affairs Ministry has denied declaring the US and Nigerian Ambassadors persona non grata.

    On Friday, Niger’s foreign affairs ministry reportedly released a statement, ordering the expulsion of Usman alongside some Western diplomats.

    In reaction to German Ambassador Olivier Schnakenberg’s refusal to reply to an invitation by the ministry for a discussion on Friday August 25 at 11.00 a.m., and due to other actions of the German government contrary to Niger’s interests, the ministry is giving 48 hours to Mr. Olivier Schnakenberg’s to leave the Nigerien territory,” it said in a separate statement.

    Earlier, Niger’s military administration also gave the French ambassador, Sylvain Itte, 48 hours to leave the country.

    But in yet another statement, the foreign affairs ministry denied the first memo.

    Contrary to the information deliberately distilled on social networks which report a decision by the Nigerien authorities ordering the Ambassadors of Germany, Nigeria and the United States of America to leave Nigerien territory within 48 hours, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Cooperation, African Integration and Nigeriens Abroad specifies that the said information is false and that only the Ambassador of France in Niger is declared persona non grata.”

    “Also, the Ministry reminds those who are agitated and still doubt the expression of its sovereign will, that Niger does not need an authorization or an interpretation of the Vienna Convention of 1961, to exercise its prerogatives and have Ambassador Sylvain ITTE leave, after this 48-hour period ubur D Done in Niamey on August 25.”

    The source said the military regime that ousted the government of President Mohamed Bazoum exactly a month ago was embarrassed by the reports.

    This was said to have made the foreign affairs ministry issue a counter statement, an indication that there is lack of coordination on the part of the currently rulers of the country.

  • Fear of external invasion: Niger Junta orders troops to go on ‘maximum alert’

    Fear of external invasion: Niger Junta orders troops to go on ‘maximum alert’

    Apparently scared of external invasion the junta in Niger has ordered its armed forces to go on highest alert, citing an increased threat of attack, according to an internal document issued Friday by its defense chief that a security source in the country confirmed was authentic.

    The document, which was shared widely online Saturday, said the order to be on maximum alert would allow forces to respond adequately in case of any attack and “avoid a general surprise.”

    “Threats of aggression to the national territory are increasingly being felt,” it said.

    The main West African bloc ECOWAS has been trying to negotiate with the leaders of the July 26 coup, but it has said it is ready to deploy troops to restore constitutional order if diplomatic efforts fail.

    On Friday, the bloc downplayed this threat and said it was “determined to bend backwards to accommodate diplomatic efforts,” although an intervention remained one of the options on the table.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, let me state unequivocally that ECOWAS has neither declared war on the people of Niger, nor is there a plan, as it is being purported, to invade the country, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray told reporters.

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  • France fumes, says Niger junta has no right to expel Ambassador

    France fumes, says Niger junta has no right to expel Ambassador

    France has said that the Niger junta has no authority to expel its ambassador, Sylvain Itte, from the country.

    The Niger military issued a 48-hour ultimatum on Friday, directing Sylvain Itte to leave the country due to his refusal to meet with the junta-appointed foreign minister.

    In response, the French Foreign Ministry criticized the actions taken by the Niger government, asserting that they were not in the best interests of Niger.

    However, France has pushed back against the Niger junta’s attempt to expel its ambassador from Niamey. According to Deutsche Welle, France stated that the “putschists,” referring to the military coup leaders, lack the authority to demand the expulsion of their ambassador.

    Paris emphasized that the ambassador’s appointment is solely sanctioned by the legitimately elected authorities of Niger. France also noted, “We are continually assessing the security and operational circumstances of our embassy.”

    French President Emmanuel Macron had previously called for the release of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who was detained on July 26, 2023, during a military coup orchestrated by Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former commander of Niger’s presidential guard.

    Macron also urged a restoration of democratic governance in Niger, a nation that was formerly a French colony but experienced the overthrow of its elected leadership in a military coup in July.

  • Niger coup: Dialogue, don’t go to war, Pope Francis begs ECOWAS leaders

    Niger coup: Dialogue, don’t go to war, Pope Francis begs ECOWAS leaders

    Pope Francis has called for a diplomatic solution to the political crisis in Niger rather than exchanging bullets.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls the sub region’s chiefs had declared a ‘D’ Day to unleash its standby troops any moment from now.

    The Pope said he would be praying for peace in the West African country following the crisis the July 26 coup d’etat that ousted its democratically elected President.

    The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has enacted sanctions and threatened military action in the country to reinstate the deposed leader if the coup leaders fail to do so.

     

    Pope Francis, while addressing the faithful in St Peter’s Square after his Angelus prayer on Sunday, said, “I am following with concern what is happening in Niger, and join the bishops’ call in favour of peace in the country and stability in the Sahel.

    “I join with prayer the efforts of the international community to find a peaceful solution as soon as possible for the good of everyone.”

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  • We want peace, but will defend our territorial zone – Niger coup leader warns

    We want peace, but will defend our territorial zone – Niger coup leader warns

    The leader of the mutineers who seized power in Niger, Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, said that his country does not want war, but will be ready to defend its territorial zone if necessary.

    “Neither the army nor the people of Niger want war, but we will resist any manifestation of it,” Tchiani was quoted as saying by an international tv.

    He noted that the member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) do not realise that Niger has become the key to containing the region from destabilisation against the backdrop of increased terrorist activity.

    Tchiani added that the sanctions imposed against his country were aimed at putting pressure on the rebels, and not at finding a solution to the current situation.

    In addition, Tchiani said that rebels do not seek to seize power in the country but rather seek to come to a solution that would meet the interests of the people.

    On Saturday, media reported that an ECOWAS delegation arrived in the capital of Niger and met with deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to assess conditions of his detention.

    Later in the day, there were reports that the delegation also held talks with Tchiani.

    A coup took place in Niger on July 26 and Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Tchiani.

    Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all financial aid to Niger, froze rebels’ assets, and imposed a ban on commercial flights to and from the country.

    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 Friday, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs Abdel-Fatau Musah said that ECOWAS general staff chiefs had agreed on a date for the beginning of military intervention, but would not make it public.

  • Niger Coup: Radio station organises unity lectures, concert in Kano

    Niger Coup: Radio station organises unity lectures, concert in Kano

    The Premier FM Radio, Kano, on Wednesday organised lectures, a concert and a drama to boost relations and promote unity among Nigerians and Nigeriens.

    The event, which took place at the premises of the radio station located on Race Course Road, cautioned against any plan by ECOWAS Standing Force to invade Niger Republic in the bid to restore constitutional democracy in that Francophone country.

    The lectures, which were delivered by Dr Mahmud Usman, Prof. Kamilu Sani Fagge and Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, among other participants, pointed out that Nigerians and Nigeriens had been brothers and sisters for centuries and that efforts should be made to improve and sustain their ties.

    The lecturers said that the proposed ECOWAS-led military intervention would destroy the legendary relations between the two neighbouring countries and prayed God not to allow a war to take place.

    In his lecture, Sheik Khalil commended the Nigerian Senate for rejecting President Bola Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to join other West African to soldiers to invade Niger.

    He said the action of the senators showed their sense of patriotism and readiness to meet the yearnings and aspirations of their constituents.

    On his part, Dr Usman said he believed the ECOWAS-proposed war would not happen, adding that all the noise about the invasion of Niger Republic was meant to rattle the junta and coerce them to restore democracy in that country.

    The radio station owner, Malam Abba Dabo, who was represented by Malam Yusuf Asir, told the gathering that the event was organised to enlighten the people on the importance of unity between Nigerians and Nigeriens in the wake of the current standoff between Niger Republic and ECOWAS.

    Musicians, who performed in Hausa at the event, included Adam Kirfi, Aminu Ala, Bashir Dandago and a Nigerien-born Singer, Fati Niger.

    The event, which drew important dignitaries including traditional rulers, was broadcast live by the radio station.

     

  • Niger Coup leader is our brother-in-law, his wife is from Kebbi – Fani-Kayode

    Niger Coup leader is our brother-in-law, his wife is from Kebbi – Fani-Kayode

    Ex-Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode has said the Niger Coup leader is related to Nigeria via marriage as his wife is from Kebbi State, North Western part of Nigeria.

    He cautioned against the call for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to go to war with coup leaders in Niger.

    Fani-Kayode in a post on his Twitter account on Saturday noted that Nigeria and Niger over the years has a relationship.

    He urged ECOWAS to intervene in the Niger Republic without using Nigerian troops if it eventually decides to invade the country.

    The former minister while acknowledging the relationship between Nigeria and Niger, claimed that the wife of the head of the military junta in Niger, Gen Abdourahman Tiani is a Nigerian.

    According to the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Tiani’s wife is from Kebbi State.

    He added that the Emir of Dossi in Niger owes allegiance and pays homage to the Emir of Argungu in Nigeria.

    Fani-Kayode in the post on Twitter wrote, “The wife of Gen. Abdourahman Tiani, the head of the military junta in Niger, is actually a Nigerian from Kangiwa in Kebbi state whilst his Emir, the Emir of Dosso in Niger, owes allegiance & pays homage to the Emir of Argungu in Nigeria!

    “That is how connected our two countries are.

    “The truth is that there is hardly any family in the core north that does not have relatives from & in Niger.”