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| Niger junta says ousted President Mohamed Bazoum tried to escape | Niger junta says ousted President Mohamed Bazoum tried to escape |
| (3 months later) | |
| Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a coup in July | Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown in a coup in July |
| 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's lawyers have called for his immediate release, saying his detention is illegal. | Mr Bazoum's lawyers have called for his immediate release, saying his detention is illegal. |
| He has been under house arrest along with his wife and son since members of his presidential guard staged a coup in late July. | He has been under house arrest along with his wife and son since members of his presidential guard staged a coup in late July. |
| The lawyers say the ousted president and his family can only be visited by a doctor who brings them food every other day, and on Friday morning even this was not allowed. They demanded proof that he was still alive. | The lawyers say the ousted president and his family can only be visited by a doctor who brings them food every other day, and on Friday morning even this was not allowed. They demanded proof that he was still alive. |
| 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. | 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 | 'France takes us for idiots' - Inside coup-hit Niger |
| 'France takes us for idiots' - Inside coup-hit Niger | 'France takes us for idiots' - Inside coup-hit Niger |
| Simple guide to what's happening in Niger | Simple guide to what's happening in Niger |
| Simple guide to what's happening in Niger | Simple guide to what's happening in Niger |
| Africa Live: Updates from around the continent | Africa Live: Updates from around the continent |
| Africa Live: Updates from around the continent | Africa Live: Updates from around the continent |
| The attempted escape happened around 03:00 (02:00 GMT) on Thursday, military spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television. | The attempted escape happened 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 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 into the alleged escape attempt has been launched. | It is not clear where the former president and the rest of the group are now being held. An investigation into the alleged escape attempt 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. |
| As in Mali, Niger's junta has ordered French troops based in the country to help fight the jihadists to leave the country. The first convoy from Niger arrived in neighbouring Chad on Thursday after a nine-day trip, the French military said. | As in Mali, Niger's junta has ordered French troops based in the country to help fight the jihadists to leave the country. The first convoy from Niger arrived in neighbouring Chad on Thursday after a nine-day trip, the French military said. |
| 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, external 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, external 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 was overthrown, US President Joe Biden called for his immediate release and the "preservation of Niger's hard-earned democracy". | Soon after Mr Bazoum was overthrown, US President Joe Biden called for his immediate release and 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 | |
| Niger | Niger |
| Africa | Africa |