Highlights: Niger: the French ambassador implicates ex-president Mahamadou Issoufou in the coup, who reacts. The former president attacked Sylvain Itté in Niamey on Wednesday February 21 for his comments accusing him of being involved in the July 26 coup. During a closed-door hearing at the Assembly, the French diplomat pointed to the “ direct involvement ” of Mahamdou Issoufou in overthrow of his successor, Mohamed Bazoum. In a press release published by his lawyer, he denied the comments.

The former president attacked Sylvain Itté in Niamey on Wednesday February 21 for his comments accusing him of being involved in the July 26 coup. During a closed-door hearing at the Assembly…

Niger: the French ambassador implicates ex-president Mahamadou Issoufou in the coup, who reacts

The former president attacked Sylvain Itté in Niamey on Wednesday February 21 for his comments accusing him of being involved in the July 26 coup.

During a closed-door hearing at the National Assembly last November and made public in mid-February, the French diplomat pointed to the “

direct involvement

” of Mahamadou Issoufou in the overthrow of his successor, Mohamed Bazoum.

Comments deemed slanderous by the person concerned who intends to file a complaint.

Former Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou.

©France 24

By: RFI Follow

“

A web of slander.

» This is how former president Mahamadou Issoufou described Sylvain Itté's allegations.

In a press release published by his lawyer, he denied the comments made by the French ambassador.

First, on the meeting between the former head of state and

General Tiani

, strong man of Niger, two days after the coup d'état.

If this meeting did take place, it does not constitute proof of any involvement, insisted Issoufou's lawyer.

The French diplomat is convinced that “

President Issoufou was in on it

” in particular because of the way in which he was able to “

act on the military to stop

”

the attack on the French embassy last July

Then, on the causes of the coup d'état, Sylvain Itté affirmed that “

there would be a conflict

” between the Bazoum and Issoufou clans for the management of Niger's oil resources.

Statements brushed aside by Issoufou's entourage.

The defense of the former head of state regretted that the report of the said hearing, supposed to be behind closed doors, was published on the website of the National Assembly.

For her, the objective is clear: to make Mahamadou Issoufou responsible for the coup in order to hide “

the failures

” of the French intelligence services.

As for those close to him, they are asking for evidence to be put forward: “

Perhaps Mr. Itté had confidences with senior officers of the Nigerien army, who would have told him that they acted on the instructions of X or Y. Or he himself was involved in the operation.
This is one of two cases.
This is the very opportunity given to him to provide proof of his assertion in court because we do not say anything, we do not relay information from social networks when we have a certain stature

. reacted Sidibe Issoufou, national coordinator of Citizen Dynamics for a Successful Transition, a Nigerien civil society organization, and a close friend of the former leader.

Niger: the French ambassador implicates ex-president Mahamadou Issoufou in the coup, who reacts

Niger: the French ambassador implicates ex-president Mahamadou Issoufou in the coup, who reacts

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