Soldiers in Niger republic have finally announced taken over power from President Mohammed Bazoum on national TV.
Niger President Mohamed Bazoum has been held by troops from the presidential guard since early hours of Wednesday.
In the TV announcemen in the early hours of Thursday, Col Maj Amadou Abdramane, alongside nine other uniformed soldiers behind him, said: “We, the defence and security forces… have decided to put an end to the regime you know.
They said they had dissolved the constitution, suspended all institutions and closed the nation’s borders.
“This follows the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance.”
Two of the Niger neighbouring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced coups triggered by jihadist uprisings in recent years.
In both countries the new military leaders have fallen out with France, the former colonial power, which also formerly ruled Niger.
Mr Bazoum is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militancy in West Africa.
BBC reports that, he was promised Washington’s “unwavering support” in a call from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also said he had spoken to the president and offered the UN’s full support.
The West African economic bloc Ecowas has said it “condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force” in Niger.
On behalf of Ecowas, Benin’s President Patrice Talon has arrived in the capital Niamey on a mediation mission.
Mr Talon said “all means” would be used, if necessary to restore constitutional order in Niger, “but the ideal would be for everything to be done in peace and harmony”.
Mr Bazoum’s whereabouts are unclear but in a statement on Twitter on Thursday morning he said the “hard-won gains will be safeguarded” and that Nigeriens who love democracy will see to it.
