Niger coup makers say ousted govt ‘authorised French attack to free Bazoum’ – By Al Jazeera and News Agencies (Al Jazeera) / July 31, 2023
Coup makers have warned against foreign attempts to extract detained President Bazoum, saying it would result in bloodshed and chaos.
The coup leaders who seized power last week in Niger have alleged that the toppled government had authorised France to carry out an attack on the presidential palace to try to free President Mohamed Bazoum.
The claims were made on Monday by Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup plotters, on state television. He said the authorisation was signed by Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou, acting as prime minister. The claims could not be independently verified.
The whereabouts of Massoudou and Bazoum remain unknown.
France, Niger’s former colonial ruler, has condemned the coup and urged Bazoum to be reinstated but has not announced any intention to intervene militarily.
