Niger coup: president removed from power, according to soldiers

The president of Niger has vowed to save democracy after soldiers announced that they had toppled him on the national television channel.

The social media account of President Bazoum, who is being held inside the presidential palace, tweeted this morning: “The hard-won achievements will be safeguarded. All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom will see to it.”

Last night the leader of the plotters, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane, read out a statement on television flanked by nine other members of the presidential guard, saying: “We, the defence and security forces... have decided to put an end to the regime.

Niger, a landlocked state bordered by Libya and Algeria to the north, is a key western ally in the fight against Islamic militancy in west Africa. Also neighbouring Nigeria, Mali, Chad, Benin and Burkino Faso, it has seen a spate of coups in the past two years after jihadists uprooted millions and took control of vast areas.

Read the best of our journalism: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/
Subscribe to The Times and The Sunday Times YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/subscription_...
Find us on Facebook:   / timesandsundaytimes  
Find us on Twitter:   / thetimes  
Find us on Instagram:   / thetimes