The soldiers who made a coup in Niger warned France about the plan to rescue Bazoum Niger's military, which seized power last week and ...
The soldiers who made a coup in Niger warned France about the plan to rescue Bazoum
Niger's military, which seized power last week and deposed the elected president Mohamed Bazoum, said on Monday that the deposed president's government had given France permission to attack the presidential palace to try to rescue Bazoum.
The army that has surrounded Bazoum in the presidential palace since Wednesday, previously warned against the attempt to take him out of the country, saying that this will lead to bloodshed and chaos in the country.
The words of the soldiers came from the mouth of Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of those who attempted the coup through the country's television, according to the Reuters news agency.
He said that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Niger, Hassoumi Massoudou, signed as Prime Minister.
Massoudou could not be reached for confirmation. France has condemned the coup and called for Bazoum's return to power but has not announced any plans to intervene militarily.
Paris did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.
The coup d'état in Niger followed the military occupation of neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso in the past two years, which followed protests against France.
France has had troops in the area for ten years helping to fight Islamist insurgents, but some residents say they want the old colonial government to stop interfering in their affairs.
Supporters of the military government burned French flags and attacked the country's embassy in Yamai, the capital of the Republic of Niger last Sunday, where the police sprayed tear gas. In a statement by the military government, it accused France of shooting protesters and injuring six people.
French President Emmanuel Macron said that any attack on French interests in Niger will be responded to quickly without delay.