NIAMEY: Presidential guards were holding Niger President Mohamed Baz­oum inside his palace in the capital Niamey on Wednesday in what neighbouring countries called an attempted coup, but which the presidency desc­ribed as an “anti-republican” movement “in vain”.

West Africa’s main regional and economic bloc ECOWAS said it was concerned about an attempted coup d’etat and called on the plotters to free Bazoum. The African Union (AU) also condemned what it called a coup attempt and urged the “felon” soldiers involved to return to barracks immediately.

The national army was ready to attack the guards if they did not come to their senses, the presidency said in a statement.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemned any effort to seize power by force in Niger and called on all actors to exercise restraint. He also later managed to talk to the president by phone. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell also condemned any attempt to destabilise democracy and threaten the stability of Niger. The United States and France also condemned the power grab.

There was a thwarted coup attempt in Niger in March 2021, when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace days before the recently elected Bazoum was due to be sworn in. His election was the first democratic transition of power in a state that has witnessed four military coups since independence from France in 1960.

On Wednesday, the presidency’s statement followed reports that guards had cut access to the palace and blocked Bazoum inside, raising concern West Africa’s seventh coup since 2020 could be under way.

Published in Dawn, July 27th, 2023