Media: rebels in Niger threatened to kill the president in case of intervention

The military personnel of Niger, who staged a coup in the country, threatened to kill deposed President Mohamed Bazum if an attempt was made to intervene. They told Acting US Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during her visit to Niger, transmits Associated Press, citing sources.

The Nigerian junta told a senior US diplomat that they would kill ousted President Mohamed Bazum if neighboring countries tried to militarily restore his rule.

On July 26, the Niger military announced the removal of President Mohamed Bazum and the closure of the borders. At the same time, a nationwide curfew was established and the activities of all institutions of the republic were suspended. The rebels allegedly explained their actions by the deterioration of security, economic and social problems.

On July 31, ECOWAS, which includes 15 states of the African region, issued a statement on the possible use of force if the rebels do not restore constitutional order in the country within a week and release the ousted president. On August 6, the bloc’s ultimatum expired.

On the evening of August 6, the military leadership of Niger closed airspace of the country due to the threat of military invasion. According to the representative of the junta Amadou Abraman, two neighboring states are gathering troops to the borders of Niger to prepare for intervention. However, the details of what happened were not reported. August 8 French radio station RFI citing an official in Nigeria reportedthat African countries could send a contingent of 25,000 troops to invade Niger. At the same time, most of the military may come from Nigeria, whose president “promised zero tolerance for coups.”

On August 7, Nuland flew to Niger, where spent “extremely frank and at times quite difficult” meetings with representatives of the rebels – with the appointed head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Niger, General Moussa Salau Barmu and three colonels. Their names are not specified. The negotiations continued for about two hours. Nuland also had a telephone conversation with Bazum as she was not allowed to meet him in person.