The military junta that recently took control of Niger has accused former colonial power France of planning strikes with the intent to free detained President Mohamed Bazoum and restore his toppled government.
One of the coup plotters, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, claimed on state television that the ousted government had given authorisation to France to carry out strikes through a statement signed by Bazoum’s foreign minister, Hassoumi Massoudou, who was acting as the prime minister at the time.
While the French Foreign Ministry did not explicitly confirm or deny the accusation, they asserted that they only recognise Bazoum as the legitimate authority in Niger and is primarily focused on safeguarding the well-being of its own citizens and interests in the region.
The African Union, the United Nations, and other countries, including France, whose embassy was attacked, have condemned the military coup.
On Monday, Germany suspended financial aid to Niger.
West African regional bloc ECOWAS imposed sanctions on the junta and hinted at the possibility of using force to reinstate President Bazoum, who had been confined to his palace by members of his guard during the takeover.
Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby traveled to Niger and shared images of a seemingly unharmed and smiling President Bazoum, as they explored peaceful solutions to the situation.
