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| Niger junta says ousted President Mohamed Bazoum tried to escape | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a coup in July | Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a coup in July |
| The military government in Niger says it has foiled an attempt by the deposed former President, Mohamed Bazoum, to escape from custody. | The military government in Niger says it has foiled an attempt by the deposed former President, Mohamed Bazoum, to escape from custody. |
| The former president attempted to flee in the night with his family, cooks and security, a military spokesman said. | The former president attempted to flee in the night with his family, cooks and security, a military spokesman said. |
| There were plans for the group to fly out on helicopters but the plan was foiled, he added. | There were plans for the group to fly out on helicopters but the plan was foiled, he added. |
| Mr Bazoum has been under house arrest since members of his presidential guard staged a coup in late July. | Mr Bazoum has been under house arrest since members of his presidential guard staged a coup in late July. |
| Niger is part of the African region known as the Sahel - a belt of semi-arid land that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Red Sea, just south of the Sahara Desert. The area is plagued by jihadists and beset by military regimes. | |
| 'France takes us for idiots' - Inside coup-hit Niger | |
| Simple guide to what's happening in Niger | |
| Africa Live: Updates from around the continent | |
| The attempted escape happened at around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, military spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television. | The attempted escape happened at around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, military spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television. |
| "The ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and his family, his two cooks and two security elements, tried to escape from his place of detention," he said. | |
| The escape bid failed and "the main actors and some of the accomplices" were arrested, he added. | The escape bid failed and "the main actors and some of the accomplices" were arrested, he added. |
| The elaborate plan involved Mr Bazoum getting to a hideout on the outskirts of the capital Niamey, Mr Abdramane said. | The elaborate plan involved Mr Bazoum getting to a hideout on the outskirts of the capital Niamey, Mr Abdramane said. |
| The group had then planned to fly out on helicopters "belonging to a foreign power" towards Nigeria, he added, denouncing Mr Bazoum's "irresponsible attitude". | The group had then planned to fly out on helicopters "belonging to a foreign power" towards Nigeria, he added, denouncing Mr Bazoum's "irresponsible attitude". |
| It is not clear where the former president and the rest of the group are now being held. An investigation has been launched. | It is not clear where the former president and the rest of the group are now being held. An investigation has been launched. |
| The Niger military overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup on 26 July. | The Niger military overthrew the democratically elected president in a coup on 26 July. |
| It mirrored similar military takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid an Islamist insurgency and a growing Russian influence in the wider Sahel region through its mercenary group Wagner. | It mirrored similar military takeovers in neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali, amid an Islamist insurgency and a growing Russian influence in the wider Sahel region through its mercenary group Wagner. |
| Mr Bazoum has refused to officially resign. | Mr Bazoum has refused to officially resign. |
| Despite his captivity, he was able to publish an article in The Washington Post stating that he was a hostage and that the coup would have "devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world". | Despite his captivity, he was able to publish an article in The Washington Post stating that he was a hostage and that the coup would have "devastating consequences for our country, our region and the entire world". |
| Soon after Mr Bazoum's overthrow, US President Joe Biden called for him to be "immediately released", and for the "preservation of Niger's hard-earned democracy". | Soon after Mr Bazoum's overthrow, US President Joe Biden called for him to be "immediately released", and for the "preservation of Niger's hard-earned democracy". |
| That followed the expiration of a deadline by Ecowas, a power bloc of West African states, for the coup leaders to stand down. | That followed the expiration of a deadline by Ecowas, a power bloc of West African states, for the coup leaders to stand down. |
| Its threats of military intervention were not followed through, and the junta continues to ignore demands for the president's freedom. | Its threats of military intervention were not followed through, and the junta continues to ignore demands for the president's freedom. |
| Mr Bazoum's party and family members say he has had no access to running water, electricity or fresh goods. | Mr Bazoum's party and family members say he has had no access to running water, electricity or fresh goods. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Niger | Niger |
| Africa | Africa |