Niger’s first democratically elected president was ousted in a military coup Saturday, and an army colonel took over as head of state, charging that the government was crippled by an “absurd crisis.”
Col. Ibrahim Barre Mainassara announced on state-run radio that President Mahamane Ousmane was under arrest at the presidential palace, the constitution was suspended and a temporary national council was in control of the government.
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Referring to himself as the new head of state, Mainassara said Prime Minister Hama Amadou was also arrested, and political parties were banned.
Mainassara, 45, said he seized control because a deadlock between the president and the opposition members of parliament had reached an “absurd crisis.”
He said a soldier and a private presidential guard were killed when army soldiers surrounded the presidential palace and government headquarters.
There were no other reports of deaths. A dozen army soldiers were injured during the coup, according to government officials.
Gunfire was heard around the government headquarters late Saturday evening.