What is a coup? What happens now in Niger where soldiers have taken control and are holding President Mohamed Bazoum?

Niger has experienced four military coups since 1960

Soldiers have staged a coup to overthrow Mohamed Bazoum, the president of Niger.

What is a coup and what happens now in the West African nation?

What happened in Niger?

This image from ORTN - Télé Sahel shows Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, spokesperson for the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, speaking during a televised statement. Soldiers claimed to have overthrown the government of Niger President Mohamed Bazoum in a statement read out on national television, after a day in which the leader was detained in his official residence.

Soldiers held President Bazoum in his official residence for a day, before announcing in a live broadcast on state television late on Wednesday night they had “put an end” to his rule.

They said they had dissolved the constitution and suspended all institutions in the country.

In the TV announcement, Colonel Major 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. This follows the continuing deterioration of the security situation, and poor economic and social governance."

He said a curfew had been imposed from 10pm until 5am until further notice.

Who is behind the coup?

Col Abdramane has said his soldiers, who are believed to be from different branches of Niger’s military, were acting for a group he called the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP).

How long has President Bazoum been in power?

Niger, which has experienced four military coups since it declared independence from France in 1960, elected President Bazoum in 2021 in the nation’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence.

While Niger has previously been supported by France and the US, some neighbouring countries, including Mali, have turned to Russia’s Wagner private military company for protection against jihadist uprisings.

Has there been any international comment on the situation?

US secretary of state Anthony Blinken told President Bazoum he had the “unwavering support” of the US and called for the president’s release.

He said at a press conference in New Zealand the situation was “an effort to seize power by force and to disrupt the constitution”. Niger has been a key ally in the West’s fight against Islamist jihadists in the region.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres also said he had spoken to the president and offered the UN's full support. “The secretary general is deeply disturbed by the detention of President Mohamed Bazoum and is concerned for his safety and well-being,” said his spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.

“He calls on all actors involved in this deplorable act to release the president with immediate effect and without any precondition. The United Nations stands in solidarity with the democratically elected government and the people of Niger.”

The West African economic bloc Ecowas has said it "condemns in the strongest terms the attempt to seize power by force" in Niger.

In his TV broadcast, Col Abdramane asked “all external partners ...not to interfere”. He added: “Land and air borders are closed until the situation has stabilised.”

Has there been any statement from the president?

Not directly. President Bazoum and his wife have been held in the presidential palace since Tuesday. An aide confirmed to media “it is a coup” and the soldiers had taken over the government.

In a post that has now been removed, the office of the Nigerien presidency said on Twitter on Wednesday that “elements of the Presidential Guard engaged in an anti-Republican move and tried in vain to obtain the support of the National Armed Forces and the National Guard”.