Niger general declares himself as country's new leader
A powerful Niger general who staged a coup on Friday declared himself the new leader of the unstable jihadist-hit African nation and warned that any foreign military intervention would lead to chaos. General Abdourahamane Tchiani, head of the Presidential Guard since 2011, appeared on state television, saying he was the "president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland". The general, who is in his 50s and has previously kept out of public life, presented the coup as a response to "the degradation of the security situation" linked to jihadist bloodshed. He questioned "the sense and scope of a security approach to the fight against terrorism which excludes any real collaboration with Burkina Faso and Mali" -- neighbours which face similar threats. But the putschists, who have faced international condemnation for taking power from a democratically elected president, also warned of "the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention". On the third day since President Mohamed Bazoum was detained, former colonial master France demanded the restoration of the government, saying it "does not recognise" the putschists, and calling Bazoum the "sole president". The coup has prompted mounting concern -- Kenyan President William Ruto called the army takeover "a serious setback" for Africa. "The aspirations of the people of Niger for constitutional democracy were subverted by an unconstitutional change of government," he said in a video message. West African leaders will meet Sunday in the Nigerian capital Abuja to discuss the coup, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said. "ECOWAS and the international community would do everything to defend democracy and ensure democratic governance continues to take firm root in the region," Tinubu, who is also the chairman of the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc, said in a statement. The European Union threatened to cut aid to Niamey after what it said was a "serious attack on stability and democracy". The United States also warned it may "cease security and other cooperation", although its approximately 1,000 troops stationed in the country will stay in place for now. Meanwhile, two deputy directors of Bazoum's cabinet, Daouda Takoubakoye and Oumar Moussa, also hit back, calling Tchiani's statement "lies" and accusing the general and the Presidential Guard of having staged the coup for "personal gains". Bazoum and his family have been confined since Wednesday morning to their residence at the presidential palace located within the 700-strong Presidential Guard's military camp. He is said to be in good health and has been able to talk by telephone to other heads of state. (AFP)