In a post on social media, it was claimed that the soldiers who took over the government in Niger after the military coup threatened the minister of finance saying, "If you cannot explain how the country's money was stolen within 48 hours, you will be shot." The person in the video accompanying the post was also claimed to be a minister.
Faktyoxla Lab. has clarified the information with reference to foreign media.
On July 26, 2023, a group of soldiers in Niger announced that they had taken over the government and overthrown President Mohammed Bazoum due to the socio-economic crisis in the country.
After the news of the coup, a video of a crying statesman on social media spread allegations of death threats against Niger's finance minister. But the person in the video is not Finance Minister Ahmat Jidoud, but former Justice Minister Marou Amadou.
The alleged video was released on December 27, 2021. The person seen in the video is Marou Amadou, who served as Niger's Minister of Justice from 2011 to 2021. In the said video, Amadou cried during a conference of a new think tank in Niger, thanking the country's former president, Mahamadou Issoufou, for entrusting him with the post of justice minister.
Other footage from the aforementioned conference is also available. When these images are compared with these ones, Amadou's clothing and the location of the video can be matched.
The current Minister of Finance of Niger, Ahmat Jidoud, is this person.
There is no evidence that the finance minister was threatened with death. In a media survey of international and local news sources, there was no mention of the phrase "If you cannot explain how the country's money was stolen within 48 hours, you will be shot" or a death threat. The rebels have not yet made any statement regarding their financial policies. However, the minister of finance did not make a statement to the press after the coup.
Conclusion:
- The person in the video is not Finance Minister Ahmat Jidoud, but former Justice Minister Marou Amadou.
- The video was released in December 2021.
- Marou Amadou cries as he thanks former President Mahamadou Issoufou for the mandate he entrusted to him as Minister of Justice.