In a national televised address, a group of soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger President Mohamed Bazoum following an apparent coup in the fragile state.
Disgruntled members of the elite Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices in the capital Niamey on Wednesday, and after talks broke down 'refused to release the president,' a presidential source said.
Reading from a statement, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, seated and flanked by nine other officers wearing fatigues, said the defence and security forces had decided: 'Put an end to the regime that you know due to the deteriorating security situation and bad governance.'
He said the country's borders are closed and a nationwide curfew declared, and all institutions of the republic were suspended.
The soldiers warned against any foreign intervention, hours after the president was held in the presidential palace.
In a national televised address, a group of soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger President Mohamed Bazoum following an apparent coup
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union both decried what they called an 'attempted coup d'etat'.
It described the events as an effort to unseat Bazoum, who was elected president two years ago in the nation's first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since its independence from France in 1960.
The streets of Niamey were bustling as usual, with many residents refusing to discuss the situation until there was more clarity.
Some international security forces in the country were ordered put on lockdown. The United Nations said its 1,500 staff members in Niger were safe but had to suspend their regular work.
The head of ECOWAS said Benin President Patrice Talon was heading to Niger in a mediation bid, Click Here after the latest bout of turbulence to hit the region.
The African Union, the UN, the EU and the United States have all condemned the soldiers' actions.