Niger Republic Coup Live Updates: Military Leaders Set To Prosecute President Bazoum, Give Reasons

Niger Republic: 6 soldiers, 10 suspected jihadists killed in gun battle amid coup crisis

An emerging report has confirmed the killing of six Niger Republic soldiers and ten suspected jihadists during a sporadic gun battle on Sunday, August 13.

This development is on the heels of the current military takeover of the Republic of Niger, which led to the detention of its democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.

According to Eyewitness News, it was gathered that the suspected jihadists on motorbikes ambushed the Nigerian troops in Sanam, the country's western region.

Legit.ng gathered that Sanam is the Tillaberi tri-border area where Niger meets Mali and Burkina Faso, and it is revealed that this is the region where jihadist attacks are frequent.

It was further gathered that a similar occurrence occurred in the same region on Wednesday, August 9, the first since the General Abdourahamane Tchiani coup took place.

General Tchiani justified his coup and overthrow of President Bazoum on the premises of the deteriorated state of insecurity in Niger.

Niger coup: Tension as military junta to prosecute detained President Bazoum

Niamey, Niger - The General Abdourahamane Tchiani-led coup plotter have revealed that the toppled and detained President Mohamed Bazoum would be prosecuted on account of treason.

As reported by Aljazeera, this development was confirmed late at night on Sunday, August 13, by one of the military leaders, Colonel-Major Amadou Abdramane.

He said:

"The Nigerien government has so far gathered... evidence to prosecute the deposed president and his local and foreign accomplices before the competent national and international bodies for high treason and undermining the internal and external security of Niger"

Niger coup: ECOWAS orders activation of standby forces

FCT, Abuja - The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

The President of ECOWAS Commission, Omar Alieu Touray made the declaration while reading the resolution of ECOWAS on the Niger coup at the ECOWAS Extraordinary meeting in Abuja on Thursday.

ECOWAS Summit: Tinubu calls for diplomatic dialogue in resolving Niger crisis

FCT, Abuja - Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African State (ECOWAS), President Bola Tinubu, says it is crucial to prioritise diplomatic negotiations to resolve the crisis in Niger Republic.

According to the Nigerian President, the regional bloc must engage the coup leaders in the neighbouring country to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum.

Niger coup: Tinubu, 9 other presidents kick off 2nd ECOWAS extraordinary summit

FCT, Abuja - The heads of government across the 15 member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have converged in Abuja to deliberate on solutions regarding the military takeover of the Republic of Niger.

At the summit, the President of Nigeria and chairman of ECOWAS, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gave the opening speech to kick off the 2nd extraordinary summit on Thursday, August 10.

Coup d'état: ECOWAS set to hold emergency summit amid formation of new govt by Niger coupists

ECOWAS leaders have scheduled an emergency summit slated for Thursday, August 10.

This is on the heels of the Niger military junta's defiance after ECOWAS issued an ultimatum to return the government to civil rule.

On Wednesday, the military leaders in Niger inaugurated a new government releasing a 21-member list despite several peace talks held with US and Nigerian envoys.

Meanwhile, the ECOWAS summit is expected to make an important decision that would change the landscape of Nigerian politics for better or for worse.

Rebel leaders form new govt as ECOWAS reveals next step

Emerging reports have confirmed that the military coup leaders in the Republic of Niger have formed a new government, according to a decree issued live on national television late-night on Wednesday, August 9.

According to France 24, Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine will lead the 21-member government, with generals from the new military governing council heading the defence and interior ministries.

Coup d'état: Video emerges as Sanusi meets with Niger military junta

President Bazoum and his family in derailing condition, fresh report confirms

Niger, Niamey- Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum and his family live under a derailing condition.

As reported by France 24, the President and his family were detained without a power supply and food.

This development was confirmed on Wednesday, August 9, via a statement issued by the political party of the ousted and detained President.

Son of Nigerian Ambassador to France Detained in Niamey

Niger, Niamey - An emerging report has confirmed the detention of Idrissa Kané by the military junta in the Republic of Niger on Wednesday, August 9.

Idrissa Kané is the son of Aïchatou Boulama Kané, the ousted Niger’s ambassador to France who pledged loyalty to the government of the detained and overthrown President Mohamed Bazoum.

As reported by France 24, Kané was involved in a case of alleged misappropriation of public funds being handled by Niger’s anti-corruption body, Halcia.

Kane is the current general manager of the Niger’s Post Office, and it is unclear if he has been taken into custody due to the case of corruption or his mother’s loyalty to President Bazoum and defiance to the current military government.

Coup: ECOWAS, AU leaders meet as Niger military leader refuses to yield

Leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and African Union (AU) on Sunday, July 6, held an emergency virtual meeting to deliberate on the next action following the military takeover of government in the Republic of Niger.

As reported by The Nation, the emergency meeting was held as the deadline set by ECOWAS for the surrender of the military juntas in Niger elapsed yesterday.

It was gathered that ECOWAS would schedule another meeting in the coming days to reach a final resolution on what to do next.

A source at the presidency in Abuja disclosed that:

“The heads of government would reconvene to decide on the next option. But no date has been fixed for the meeting where a final decision would be made on how to deal with the situation in Niger,” Punch reported.

Coup d'état: Niger military junta shuts air space amid threats of Tinubu-led ECOWAS invasion

Niger, Niamey - Emerging reports have confirmed that the General Abdourahamane Tchiani-led military government in the Niger Republic has shut down the country's air space amid threats of imminent military intervention from external forces.

As reported by Channels Television, this is coming after the deadline for surrender issued by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) elapsed on Sunday, August 6.

It was gathered that at the closure of its air space, General Tchiani warned that an attempt to invade Niger's air space would be translated as war and would be met with an “energetic and immediate response.”

He said:

“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday… for all aircraft until further notice.”

BREAKING: Coup d'état: Senators reject Tinubu's request for military invasion of Niger

Nigerian Senators have declined President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's request to invade the coup-inflicted Republic of Niger.

President Tinubu has been urged to focus more on a clamp down on Boko Haram, bandits and the agitators of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Coup d'état: Full list of ECOWAS sanctions on Niger Republic

The Republic of Niger is still under the leadership of General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the military junta who overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, the legitimate and democratic leader of the West African country.

Several attempts have been made by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to resolve how democratic governance can be restored to President Bazoum, who is currently in the captivity of General Tchiani.

General Tchiani and his allied forces of Mali and Guinea Bissau have since declined any room for negotiation or return to democratic leadership.

This is after the ECOWAS had issued a seven-day deadline for General Tchiani and his cohorts to surrender or face stern sanctions.

Below are the sanctions ECOWAS threatened Niger with.

1. Border closure

The ECOWAS noted that there would be an immediate sanction on Niger, including the closure of land and air borders between ECOWAS countries and Niger, establishing a no-fly zone on all commercial flights to and from Niger, and suspending all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger.

2. Frozen Assets

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led ECOWAS threatened that the assets of the Republic of Niger in the ECOWAS Central Bank, Niger state enterprises, and parastatals in commercial banks would be frozen.

3. Financial Suspension

ECOWAS said Niger will also be suspended from all financial assistance and transactions with financial institutions within ECOWAS.

4. Travel Ban

ECOWAS said travel bans and asset freezes would be imposed on the military officials involved in the coup attempt, as well as their family members and civilians who accept to participate in any institution or government established by these army officials.

Niger coup: Northern Senators caution against use of military power

FCT, Abuja - Senators from the north have cautioned against using military power in tackling the military takeover of the Niger Republic, calling for diplomatic options to address the situation.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by Suleiman A. Kawu Sumaila, the spokesperson of the northern senators forum.

Niger Coup d'état: ECOWAS military chiefs meet in Abuja, details emerge

FCT, Abuja - The military chiefs of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) have converged in Abuja for an emergency meeting amid the military takeover of the Republic of Niger.

The military chiefs who converged at the defence headquarters in Abuja on Friday, August 4, are appealing to the coup mastermind in Niger to give peace a chance and release the detained President of Niger, Mohamad Bazoum.

Niger coup: President Tinubu's move to get Senate approval to deploy military intervention

FCT, Abuja - Amid the military takeover of the Niger Republic, the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has made a move to seek the support of the Nigerian Senate to initiate a military onslaught on the coup mastermind General Abdourahamane Tchiani.

This is on the heels of the coup successfully masterminded by General Tchiani and his cohorts, who captured and detained President Mohamed Bazoum.

To this effect, the ECOWAS issued a seven-day deadline for General Tchiani to surrender power to President Bazoum or face sanction and military intervention.