Niger Junta Says Toppled Government Authorized French Strikes

The Niger military junta that seized power last week said on Monday that the toppled government had authorized France to carry out strikes at the presidency to try to free President Mohamed Bazoum.

The military junta, which has confined Bazoum to the presidential palace since Wednesday, has previously warned against foreign attempts to extract him, saying it would result in bloodshed and chaos, Reuters reported.

The military’s comments were made by army Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup plotters, on state television.

He said the authorization was signed by Niger Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou, acting as prime minister.

Massoudou could not be reached for comment.

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. Paris did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Monday.

The coup in Niger followed military takeovers in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso over the last two years, all of which have come amid a wave of anti-French sentiment.