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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Niger's number two junta leader seized |
| 2010-10-15 |
| [Daily Nation (Kenya)] The number two in Niger's ruling junta, Colonel Abdoulaye Badie, is under arrest at military headquarters in Niamey, a military source said today, amid media speculation of a foiled coup plot. "Colonel Badie was jugged yesterday afternoon and is under detention in military headquarters in Niamey," the military source said. "He is being interrogated," the source added, without explaining the reasons for the arrest. Badie was permanent secretary to the junta under General Salou Djibo, leader of the coup that overthrew Niger's president Mamadou Tandja in February. He also served as chief military quartermaster. Djibo issued a decree abolishing the post of secretary on Sunday but left Badie as a member of the junta, which calls itself the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD). In its edition of Monday, the independent weekly Le Canard Dechaine suggested that the suppression of the secretary's post could be linked to "crazy reports about an attempted coup d'etat" in preparation. The front man for the junta, Colonel Abdoul-Karim Goukoye, could not be reached for comment. For several days, the military presence in the capital and its suburbs has been stepped up, with larger patrols, particularly at night, AFP journalists noted. Last Friday, Djibo sacked the top commander of the national guard (the former republican guard), Lieutenant-Colonel Abdou Sidikou. The official statement announcing his dismissal gave no explanation. The arrest of the number two in the junta comes as Niger, one of the world's poorest countries rich only in uranium, is preparing for a transitional process intended to restore democracy. A constitutional referendum is planned for October 31 to start this process, which will culminate with a presidential election on January 31, next year. |
| Posted by:Fred |