A team of military and civilian personnel conducted a search of certain dignitaries from the regime of Mohamed Bazoum, including former Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou. This operation carried out on the night of Thursday, August 17, 2023, to Friday, August 18, 2023, resulted in the seizure of several assets in cash.
Several residences belonging to close associates and collaborators of Mohamed Bazoum were searched. At the home of the former Prime Minister Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou, who is currently in exile, sources report that nearly 90,000 euros were discovered, equivalent to up to 60 million CFA francs.
General Mahamadou Abou Tarka, President of the High Authority for Peace Consolidation, also received an unannounced visit from the search team. RFI reports that more than two vehicles were taken from his residence. Many other items (documents, phones, computers, etc.) were seized from residences belonging to other individuals.
Apart from the Prime Minister, the homes of other government members were searched. Pro-Bazoum deputies and leaders of the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS) did not escape the searches. Even the residence of Mohamed Bazoum’s bodyguard was visited.
PNDS-Tarayya denounces “burglaries” and “thefts” Following the searches, the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya) issued a statement condemning the actions of the military team that went through the homes of Mohamed Bazoum’s associates. According to the party, this operation was carried out in a completely illegal manner.
According to the PNDS-Tarayya officials, these are simply “burglaries” and “thefts.” “These burglaries follow the vandalism campaigns that we observed at certain intersections in the city of Niamey, authorized and supervised by the hooligans of the hostage-takers who see these delinquents as objective allies in their work of destroying social cohesion and undermining national unity,” the statement signed by Kalla Ankouraou reads.
Mohamed Bazoum still in the hands of the coup leaders Deposed from his position since Wednesday, July 26, 2023, Mohamed Bazoum is still held by the coup leaders. ECOWAS promises to release and reinstate him by any means necessary. However, more than two weeks later, the situation remains unchanged. Mohamed Bazoum refuses to resign and is still awaiting his savior for a return to constitutional order.
