Niger’s President Assassinated by Soldiers

Dissident soldiers opened fire on Niger’s President Ibrahim Bare Mainassara at the Niamey airport Friday and the government said he had been killed.

In Washington, the United States said Mainassara was assassinated by members of his presidential guard but did not disclose the source of the information.

Witnesses said at least three other people died in the attack: Mainassara’s chief of personal staff, a bodyguard and a senior regional official.

“President Bare was assassinated by his presidential guard earlier this morning at the airport in Niamey. It’s unclear to us why this occurred,” State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said.

Niger’s Prime Minister Ibrahim Assane Mayaki announced Mainassara’s death in a broadcast on state radio but said only that he had been killed in an “unfortunate accident.” Police and witnesses at the airport earlier reported the attack by soldiers.

“In the morning of Friday, an unfortunate accident resulted in the sudden death of the president of the republic,” Mayaki said after hours of confusion in the capital.

Mayaki went on to announce the dissolution of parliament and the suspension of political activity.

Although he said the present administration would continue in office until a national unity government takes over, it was unclear who was in charge of the country.

Mayaki said Mainassara’s death came “at a particularly grave moment in the history of our country,” a reference to growing political tension after chaotic local elections in February.

He did not say if the assassination was part of a coup bid and, if so, what happened to the perpetrators.

Official sources said Mayaki later went to military headquarters for talks with senior officers.

Residents said the capital was calm, with troops who earlier came out with tanks guarding the presidential palace, airport and key ministries. Rubin said U.S. citizens did not appear threatened by the events but had been advised to stay home.

Witnesses and police at the airport said the shooting took place as Mainassara was preparing to travel to the interior.

A correspondent for Radio France Internationale reported that Mainassara’s body was moved from the airport to a city clinic that residents said was owned by the president’s wife.