ABIDJAN: Niger’s deposed president Mohamed Bazoum lawyers rejected allegations by the new military rulers that the former president tried to flee the country. Meanwhile, France reaffirmed its commitment to withdrawing its forces from the West African nation by the end of the year, as previously scheduled.
Since his ousting by the military on July 26, former Niger President along with his wife and son, had been under house arrest at his residence within the presidential palace.
The military regime claimed on Thursday that Mohamed Bazoum had made an escape attempt with his family, accompanied by two cooks and two security agents.
According to regime spokesperson Amadou Abdramane, the plan involved reaching a hideout on the outskirts of the capital, Niamey, before using helicopters “belonging to a foreign power” to head towards Nigeria. This was announced on state television.
