Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum is in good health after being taken captive by his own presidential guard, the French foreign minister has said.
A Russian flag was on show during a pro-coup demonstration held after morning downpours cleared
Two neighbouring countries, Mali and Burkina Faso, have experienced coups triggered by Islamist uprisings in recent years. For the moment, there is no evidence of any Russian involvement in this takeover. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said constitutional order in Niger should be restored, Reuters says, quoting Russia's state-owned Tass news agency.
This coup, even if it turns out to be short-lived, has shown that even Niger cannot necessarily be relied on to be a permanent safe base. Western influence in the region is shrinking like a water pool in the dry season.
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