This comes after the West African heads of state gather in Nigeria’s capital for an emergency summit to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order.

Heads of state of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States could suspend Niger from their institutions, cut off the country from the regional central bank and financial market, and close borders should the situation in Niger not go back to normalcy as soon as possible.

General Abdourahmane Tchiani – also known as Omar Tchiani, and the chief of Niger’s presidential guard – has declared himself leader of Niger while the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the military since the coup took place last week.