General Abdourahamane Tchiani has been declared himself the new president of Niger following a military takeover, state television reported Friday after the country’s president was detained by members of his own guard.

Tchiani, the head of the Presidential Guard, has been named “president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland”, a report said.

Appearing on state television, the general said soldiers had seized power due to the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel country.

The country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, has been detained by the putschists since Wednesday morning.

AFP