The military government in Niger has successfully foiled an escape attempt by the deposed former President, Mohamed Bazoum, who has been under house arrest since a coup staged by his presidential guard in late July. According to a military spokesman, Mr. Bazoum tried to flee during the night with his family, cooks, and security personnel. The group had planned to escape via helicopters but their plan was thwarted.
Niger, located in the Sahel region of Africa, has been dealing with the challenges of jihadist activity and military regimes. The escape attempt took place around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, as revealed by Amadou Abdramane, a military spokesman, during a broadcast on state television. He stated, “The ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, along with two cooks and security personnel, attempted to escape from his place of detention.” The escape bid was unsuccessful, resulting in the arrest of the main individuals involved.
The elaborate plan involved Mr. Bazoum reaching a hideout on the outskirts of the capital, Niamey, as disclosed by Mr. Abdramane. Their intention was to then board helicopters “belonging to a foreign power” en route to Nigeria. Mr. Abdramane denounced Mr. Bazoum’s “irresponsible attitude”. The current whereabouts of Mr. Bazoum and the rest of the group remain unknown, and an investigation is underway.
Niger’s military overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup on July 26, following a pattern seen in neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali, which are also dealing with Islamist insurgency and Russian involvement in the Sahel region through the Wagner mercenary group.
Mr. Bazoum has refused to officially resign and managed to publish an article in The Washington Post, despite his captivity. In the article, he described himself as a hostage and warned of the “devastating consequences for our country, our region, and the entire world” resulting from the coup.
Shortly after Mr. Bazoum’s overthrow, US President Joe Biden called for his immediate release and emphasized the need to protect Niger’s hard-earned democracy. However, the junta remains defiant, disregarding demands for the president’s freedom, even after the deadline set by Ecowas, a West African power bloc, passed without military intervention.
Mr. Bazoum’s party and family members claim he is being deprived of basic necessities such as running water, electricity, and fresh supplies.
