Niger’s President, Mohamed Bazoum, has issued a defiant message on Twitter after soldiers announced a coup overnight in the West African nation.
Trouble began early on Wednesday when troops from the presidential guard took him captive.
His foreign minister has said the takeover does not have the backing of the whole military, but the army chief has now said he backs the junta.
Mr Bazoum is a key Western ally in the fight against Islamist militants.
The US and France, the former colonial power, both have military bases in the uranium-rich country – and have condemned the coup.
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, called up Mr Bazoum promising Washington’s “unwavering support” and the UN, the European Union and Russia have all called for the president’s immediate release.
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The 64-year-old, who was elected Niger’s president two years ago, took to Twitter on Thursday morning to say: “The hard-won achievements will be safeguarded. All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom will see to it.”
State TV has been repeating the late-night coup announcement interspersed with patriot music and Quranic verses – and its usual 12:30 GMT news bulletin was not aired.
But in the capital, Niamey, shops and markets opened for business and after delays due to heavy rain in the morning, coup supporters took to the streets.
Some who gathered outside the National Assembly had Russian flags, while others held up hand-written signs saying: “Down with France” and “Foreign bases out”. —BBC
