Niger: chaos grips capital after military declares coup

Chaos and looting broke out in Niger’s capital, Niamey on Thursday, a day after the country’s armed forces declared a coup on the government of President Mohamed Bazoum. The carcasses of burnt out cars lined the Central African country’s capital, as people ransacked the headquarters of Bazoum’s socialist party. Hundreds of people also gathered outside the National assembly in support of the coup. The Nigerien officers of the the self-proclaimed National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland announced the coup on national TV on Wednesday evening, after the presidential guard earlier declared that it had detained the president. Supporters of the deposed president immediately took to the street to protest the military takeover. The international community has widely condemned the coup with UN secretary general, António Guterres, calling on the army to reinstate the elected government.