The former president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, who they overthrew in a coup in July, attempted to flee their captivity on Thursday, according to the military authorities who claim they stopped him.
The regime’s spokesman, Amadou Abdramane, said on state television that Mohamed Bazoum, the deposed president, and his family, as well as his two chefs and two security personnel, attempted to flee from their place of confinement at around three in the morning.
The escape attempt was unsuccessful, and “the main actors and some of the accomplices” were detained, he continued in the program late on Thursday.
Additionally, a probe has been opened.
According to Abdramane, the initial step of the escape plot called for Bazoum to travel to a location outside of the capital Niamey.
He continued by criticizing Bazoum’s “irresponsible attitude” and revealing that they had intended to go on helicopters “belonging to a foreign power” in the direction of Nigeria.
Since the military overthrew him on July 26, Bazoum has resisted calling it quits. He and his wife Haziza and son Salem had been detained at their home in the center of the presidential palace up until this point.
Where they were now being confined was unknown to Abdramane.
According to Bazoum’s attorneys, he filed a lawsuit in September against those who deposed him before a court of the Economic Community of West African States.
Additionally, they stated that the UN Human Rights Council will be hearing his case.
The deteriorating security situation in the nation as a result of Islamist assaults was offered as rationale by the army leaders who ousted Bazoum.
Two jihadist insurgencies are being fought in Niger: an offensive in the west by militants crossing from Mali and Burkina Faso, and a spillover from a protracted battle in neighboring Nigeria in its southeast.
The bloodiest attack since the military took power in July claimed the lives of 29 soldiers in Niger, prompting the country to observe three days of national mourning at the beginning of the month.
The first contingent of French soldiers to leave Niger following a military coup arrived by road in N’Djamena, the capital of neighboring Chad, on Thursday.
After traveling for 10 days and working with Nigerien forces, the convoy “has arrived without any particular problems” in N’Djamena, according to army spokesman Pierre Gaudilliere for AFP.
The troops will fly from Chad to France, and the withdrawal should be finished by the end of December.
To combat fighters affiliated with the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, about 1,400 soldiers were stationed in western and the capital city of Niamey. They brought with them fighter jets, drones, helicopters, armored vehicles, and equipment to help them.
Since the coup, France has advocated for the return of deposed President Bazoum, along with a number of other nations and organizations. But for the time being, the military government is still rigid.
