Old video shows Niger’s Bazoum on holiday in Goure, not leaving presidential villa in Niamey
- This article is more than one year old.
- Published on August 17, 2023 at 19:24
- Updated on August 17, 2023 at 19:26
- 5 min read
- By Emilie BERAUD
- Translation and adaptation Fikayo OWOEYE
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"After signing his resignation, the former President of the Republic of Niger Mohamed Bazoum, was observed departing from the presidential villa," reads an Instagram post published on August 8, 2023, and which has since gathered more than 800 likes.
It includes a 30-second video showing Bazoum walking in a large compound and flanked by a sizeable security contingent. The name "Goure" and the Nigerien flag are prominently displayed at the bottom of the screen.
The claim also appeared on Facebook, Twitter, formerly X, and YouTube.
On July 26, 2023, members of Niger’s presidential guard staged a coup and ousted Bazoum, the country’s democratically-elected president (archived here).
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), chaired by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, gave the new military leaders a seven-day ultimatum to reinstate Bazoum or risk reprisal. However, the deadline of August 6, 2023, passed without further action.
Meanwhile, leaders of ECOWAS met on August 10, 2023, and ordered the activation of a "standby force" for possible use in Niger (archived here). No further details on troops or a timeframe were provided.
The UN said it was "very concerned" about the "deplorable living conditions" Bazoum and his family are reportedly enduring (archived here).
Holiday footage
AFP Fact Check identified a TikTok logo in the misleading clip associated with an account called "lenfantchoco22".
A search of this account led to an older posting of the video (archived here) from April 5, 2023. There is no mention of Bazoum resigning.
In the comments section, a user writing in French claims the footage was filmed in August 2022, but gives no further information about what it shows.
By searching for the keywords "Bazoum" and "Goure" on X, we found a post (archived here) dated August 28, 2022 that reads: "In #Niger, HE Bazoum Mohamed, President of the Republic, Head of State spent part of his vacation in this magnificent ‘Palace’ (private residence) in #Goure (Zinder region), before continuing his stays in #Tesker(sic)."
Au #Niger, SEM Bazoum Mohamed, président de la République, Chef de l'Etat a passé une partie de ses vacances dans ce magnifique "Palais" (résidence privée) à #Gouré (région de Zinder), avant de poursuivres ses séjours à #Tesker. Bonne vacance excellence. pic.twitter.com/RwfvWuMbH0
— Mamane Kaka Touda, (@ToudaKaka) August 28, 2022
On closer inspection, the building in the accompanying photograph is painted beige and pink – the same as the structure in the video.
The architecture of the two buildings is also similar.
Furthermore, the Nigerien Press Agency reported that "the President of the Republic HE Mr. Mohamed Bazoum arrived this Saturday, August 13, 2022, in Zinder, his native region where he started his traditional summer vacation" (archived here). The story was based on a press release from the presidency.
Goure is in Zinder, a region in the south of Niger. A local source confirmed to AFP Fact Check that the presidential house in this region is indeed located "at the entrance to Gouré" coming from the direction of Niamey.
Information on Google Maps shows the residence is located here, although AFP Fact Check could not clearly distinguish its contours or find other photographs or satellite images of the property.
However, AFP photos of the Nigerien presidential palace in Niamey, where Bazoum is being detained with his family, show the two residences do not look the same.
It is therefore impossible that the video circulating on social networks shows Bazoum leaving "the presidency after signing his resignation".
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