On 26 July, soldiers in Niger (which borders Libya to the south-west) announced a coup on national TV, saying they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions, and closed the nation’s borders. They also detained Niger President Mohamed Bazoum.
The same day, Presidential Council (PC) Deputy Mousa al-Koni, a Tuareg native of Fezzan, strongly condemned the coup in Niger, saying the country had been on a remarkable path to democracy under Bazoum. Prime Minister Abdul Hameed Dabaiba expressed deep concern about ‘developments’ in Niger that threaten stability in the neighbouring country. He said Libya stands by the principles of the African Union and rejects any non-constitutional change of governments. Tebu Congress President Issa Abdul Majeed also expressed concern about the coup.
In response to the coup, the Libyan National Army’s (LNA) Tariq Bin Ziyad Brigade mobilized all its troops in the Fezzan and is preparing to move to the border area with Niger. On 28 July, Tebu Congress President Issa Abdul Majeed called on the 5+5 Joint Military Committee (JMC) to address the situation in the border area with Niger and organize border security.