In a previous post I said that I would not report on Niger again unless there was a possibility that the country would return to semi-presidentialism. Well, it is possible that that day has come a little closer.

There has been a coup in Niamey against President Tandja. Yesterday morning, heavy gunfire was heard and the French Embassy told French nationals to remain indoors.

The coup occurred during an extraordinary meeting of the Council of Ministers. Therefore, all members of the government were present in the presidential palace. President Tandja was ‘taken away’ by the coup leaders. There are reports that ministers are still being held in the presidential palace.

The coup has been led by three generals who have announced that the government has been dissolved. They have set up what they call the ‘Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy’.

Over and above the morality of any coup, this one, so far and it is still very early on, has the hallmarks of one that aims to restore democracy. This is not least because there have been reports for a couple of months of rumblings within the army against President Tandja’s constitutional and political decisions. Therefore, whatever about any other motives, it does seem to have a political underpinning.