Four ministers in Niger, a former minister and the head of ousted president Mohamed Bazoum’s party have been arrested by the junta which seized power on July 26, the party said on Monday. On Monday morning, Oil Minister Mahamane Sani Mahamadou — the son of influential former president Mahamadou Issoufou — and Mining Minister Ousseini Hadizatou were arrested, it said. The junta had previously arrested Interior Minister Hama Amadou Souley, Transport Minister Oumarou Malam Alma and Kalla Moutari, an MP and former defence minister the party said. The arrests coincided with a statement by the junta requiring “all former ministers and heads of institutions” to hand back their office cars by noon. Western allies of Niger have also suspended aid to the country or threatened to do so.

Source: The North Africa Journal July 31, 2023 14:49 UTC