By Becky Usman
Niger’s military rulers have announced that they thwarted an escape attempt by Mohamed Bazoum, the former president they removed from power in a coup in July. According to the regime’s spokesperson, Amadou Abdramane, Bazoum, along with his family, two cooks, and two security personnel, tried to flee their place of detention in the early hours of Thursday.
The escape attempt was unsuccessful, and “the primary individuals involved and some of their accomplices” were apprehended, as reported in a late-night broadcast on state television. An investigation into the incident has also been initiated.
Abdramane disclosed that Bazoum’s escape plan involved initially reaching a hideout on the outskirts of the capital, Niamey. From there, they intended to depart via helicopters “belonging to a foreign power” bound for Nigeria. The regime denounced Bazoum’s actions as “irresponsible.”
Since his ouster on July 26, Bazoum has refused to resign. Until now, he had been held at his residence within the presidential palace, along with his wife and son. Abdramane did not specify their current location.
In September, Bazoum’s legal team reported that he had filed a case with a court of the Economic Community of West African States against those responsible for his removal. They also indicated that they would bring his case to the UN Human Rights Council.
The military officers who seized power cited the worsening security situation in the country due to jihadist attacks as their justification. Niger is confronting two jihadist insurgencies, one spilling over from neighboring Nigeria in the southeast and another stemming from Mali and Burkina Faso in the west.
Earlier this month, Niger observed three days of national mourning after a suspected jihadist attack resulted in the death of 29 soldiers, the deadliest incident since the military takeover in July.
On Thursday, the first group of French soldiers, ordered out of Niger by the country’s post-coup military rulers, arrived in the Chadian capital, N’Djamena, after a 10-day road journey in coordination with Nigerien forces. These troops will be airlifted from Chad to France, with the withdrawal expected to be completed by the end of December.
Approximately 1,400 soldiers were stationed in Niamey and western Niger to combat groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda, along with fighter jets, drones, helicopters, armored vehicles, and support equipment. France has expressed support for the deposed President Bazoum and is calling for his release, as are several other countries and organizations, although the military regime remains firm in its stance.