Chad seeks to end Niger crisis

By Nathan Morley

The first photograph of Niger’s ousted president has been released after he was toppled in a coup last week.

Mohamed Bazoum appeared to be in good health during a meeting with the president of neighbouring Chad.

Chad’s leader is spearheading negotiation efforts to end the emergency after West African leaders gave the junta a strict one-week deadline to give up power or face the possibility of military action.

On Friday, Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of the presidential guards unit, declared himself Niger's new ruler.

The military say they have removed the president from office but a desperate power struggle is understood to be continuing.

Compounding matters for the coupists is that neighbouring countries refuse to recognise the new leadership and insist that Bazoum – the country’s democratically elected president – be returned to office.

Niger, a former French colony, is a key ally for Western powers seeking help in the struggle against jihadist insurgencies that have spread across the Sahel region of Africa.