The military coup in Niger

Image from the speech on state television. AP  

 

The military coup in Niger  

Self-proclaimed president on TV: "Must avoid doom"  

 

The head of the presidential guard in Niger, Abdourahmane Tchiani, will, according to his own statement, lead a transitional government. The 62-year-old has appeared on state television on Friday and said that the coup d'état is happening to avoid the country's "downfall", writes Al Jazeera. 

 

Tcihiani has previously been involved in stopping a coup d'état, then under the leadership of ex-president Mahamadou Issoufou in 2021. Tchiani's appearance comes shortly after the former colonial power France expressed that a change of leadership is not definitive.  

 

The captured president Mohamed Bazoum is said to be doing well and is said to have spoken with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, writes AFP.  

 

 

Supporters of the military coup demonstrate in the capital Niamey, Niger on Thursday. Sam Mednick / AP  

 

Niger's president should be fine - coup d'état not "definitive" 

 

Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum is said to be in good health after being captured by his own guards after the military coup in the country, according to French Foreign Minister Cathrine Colonna, BBC writes. The coup doesn't have to be definitive either if the coup plotters listen to the outside world and reinstate the president, she says.  

 

- If you hear me say a coup d'état, it's because we don't consider things to be definitive, Catherine Colonna said according to Reuters.  

 

During Thursday there were large demonstrations in several places in the capital Niamey. Demonstrators set fire to the ruling party's headquarters, and several images show demonstrators holding up the Russian flag. Russia has condemned the military coup.