Niger: Is France behind the attempted escape of former president Bazoum?
In a shock announcement on Thursday evening, Niger’s ruling military revealed that former president Mohamed Bazoum and his inner circle had attempted to escape the country. The announcement was broadcast on national television, marking a new turning point in the political crisis shaking the West African nation.
The ruling military, represented by the spokesman for the National Council for the safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, explained that former President Bazoum and his entourage had planned an escape by using a vehicle to travel to the outskirts of Niamey, the capital of Niger.
There, they would have been met by a helicopter belonging to an unspecified foreign power, which would have taken them to neighbouring Nigeria.
Details of the escape attempt remain unclear, and Mohamed Bazoum’s current whereabouts have not been specified.
The announcement has raised many questions about the exact nature of the attempt and the motives behind it.
As a result, suspicions are turning to France, which has a reputation for this kind of trickery.
This revelation adds a new layer of complexity to the relationship between France and Niger.
The deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, has refused to resign since the coup that deposed him.
He is currently being held in his residence in the presidential palace, along with his wife, Haziza, and his son, Salem.
This situation, combined with the alleged escape attempt, illustrates the dark side of a situation orchestrated by a foreign power.
The Niger authorities have stated that they have apprehended the alleged perpetrators and accomplices of the escape attempt and that an investigation is underway.
The outcome of this investigation could have major repercussions for Niger’s political future.
Niger, a country that has faced many political upheavals over the years, is at a crucial crossroads in its history.
To be continued…
Fayçal Badie
