General Abdourahamane Tiani, head of the presidential guard that ousted Niger’s president this week, has declared himself head of state, army colonel Amadou Abdramane said on state television on Friday.
Abdramane added that the Constitution had been suspended.
Two days after mutinous soldiers overthrow the president of Niger. Analysts warn that the political chaos could roll back the fight against extremist groups and increase Russia’s influence in the region.
Several hundred people gathered in the capital Niamey on Thursday and chanted supporting chants to the Russian private military contractor Grupo Wagner while waving Russian flags, as well as burning cars and looting the president’s party headquarters.
“We are fed up,” said Omar Issaka, one of the protesters. “We are tired of being targeted… Down with the French. We are going to collaborate with Russia now,” he said.