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Presidential guards were holding Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum inside his palace in the capital Niamey on Wednesday, security sources said, but the presidency said the guards had started an "anti-republican" movement "in vain" and that Bazoum was well.
West Africa's main regional and economic bloc, ECOWAS said it was concerned about an attempted coup and called on the plotters to free Bazoum. The African Union called on the "treasonous" soldiers involved to stop immediately.
The national army was ready to attack the guards if they did not come to their senses, the presidency said in a statement.
The statement followed reports that presidential guards had cut access to the palace and blocked Bazoum inside, raising concern that West Africa's sixth takeover since 2020 could be under way.
"The President of the Republic and his family are well," the presidency said on its social media pages without providing further details.
The statement was later deleted amid doubts about who was in control. Soldiers had taken control of all roads leading to the national television station which was playing a movie.
The rest of Niamey appeared calm, with normal traffic on the road and full internet access, a Reuters reporter said.
A military takeover in Niger could further complicate Western efforts to help countries in the Sahel region fight a jihadist insurgency that has spread from Mali over the past decade.
A military takeover in Niger could further complicate Western efforts to help countries in the Sahel region fight a jihadist insurgency that has spread from Mali over the past decade.
Growing Russian influence in the Sahel region has reshaped the Western military presence there. France moved troops to Niger from Mali last year after its relations with the interim authorities in Bamako soured. It is also withdrawing special forces from Burkina Faso due to similar tensions.
There was a thwarted attempt to take over the government in Niger in March 2021, when a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace days before the then recently elected president Bazoum was due to be sworn in.
(Reuters)
