The military coup in Niger

President's plan: Escape to Nigeria by helicopter  

The military junta in Niger states that the country's deposed president Mohamed Bazoum tried to escape from the captivity he is being held in. This is reported by several media. 

 

"At three o'clock in the morning, the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum and his family, his two cooks and two security personnel tried to escape from their place of detention," regime spokesman Amadou Abdramane said on state television. 

 

The president's plan is said to have been to first be taken to a hiding place on the outskirts of the capital, Niamey. From there he was to be flown to Nigeria with the help of a helicopter "from another country".  

 

Popularly elected President Bazoum was deposed by the junta in a military coup on 26 July. Since then, he has refused to resign.  

 

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The EU flies medicine to Niger – despite the military coup 

The EU announces that necessary medicine will be flown into Niger despite the sanctions that are directed at the country after the military coup in July. This is reported by AFP.  

 

The West African organization Ecowas issued the sanctions after the then military junta forced democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum from power.  

 

The EU has also frozen financial support to the country, but will now send necessary medicine and other medical supplies.  

 

In total, there are four consignments of a total of 58 tonnes.  

 

"Reserves are rapidly depleting and access is severely limited", according to the EU.  

 

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The lawyer: The president did not try to escape - "made up"  

The information that Niger's deposed president Mohamed Bazoum tried to escape is not true. His lawyers told AFP.  

 

- We strongly deny these fabricated accusations, says the lawyer collective's spokesperson Mohamed Seydou Diagne to the news agency. 

 

He adds that Bazoum is being kept in isolation.  

 

Since the military coup at the end of July, the president and his family have been imprisoned in their residence in the presidential palace.

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