The authorities in Niamey want to strengthen the security of electrical installations and fuel depots in Niger’s capital in the face of the “threat” from a group hostile to the military regime, public television said on Friday.
According to Télé Sahel, General Assoumane Abdou Harouna, governor of Niamey and figure of the military regime resulting from a coup d’état, chaired a regional council on Thursday on the security of the capital “and its surroundings”.
“Faced with the threat of sabotage from Mahamoud Sallah’s Patriotic Liberation Front (FPL), the council discussed strengthening “vigilance” and “securing” certain “installations” in Niamey, Télé Sahel reported.
“In particular” those “of the Niger Electricity Company” (Nigelec) and the “Sonidep deposits” (Nigerian Hydrocarbon Company), two public companies, the media said.
The FPL was born in August 2023, a month after the overthrow of President Mohamed Bazoum by a coup d’état, from which the ruling regime emerged.
Mahamoud Sallah created the FPL on the Libyan border (north). He declared on Facebook that he had taken up arms against the military in power, to demand “the release” of Mr. Bazoum, detained in his residence in Niamey, and “the restoration of constitutional legality”.
Mr. Sallah threatened “to blow up installations”, particularly “oil installations” in Agadem (north-east), which is home to black gold wells and where he comes from. For now, the FPL has not carried out its threats.
Mr. Sallah had led another rebel front from 2019 to 2022. He wanted to fight corruption and bad governance under Mahamadou Issoufou and his successor, Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021.
After laying down his arms, he was received by Mr. Bazoum.
Furthermore, the regional council – which notably brings together senior officials of the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) – announced “control” in “the distribution of fuel” by service stations, to individuals as well as to ” telephone companies.
A measure taken to cut off armed jihadist groups from their sources of supply.
Niger is hit in its west and southeast by attacks by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
The council also wants to carry out “rigorous control over the outflow of food” to “red zones” by “organizations and NGOs”.
Niamey is the main Source of supplies for the Tillabéri region, the scene of deadly attacks close to Mali and Burkina Faso, also undermined by jihadist violence.
