“He’s fine, given the situation,” the source added. The coup leaders have since named a new government, which met for the first time on Friday. Niger’s new leaders have accused former colonial power France, a close Bazoum ally, of being behind the hardline ECOWAS stance. Many protesters brandished Russian and Niger flags and shouted their support for the country’s new strongman, General Abdourahamane Tiani. France has around 1,500 troops in Niger as part of a force battling an eight-year jihadist insurgency.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 12, 2023 16:34 UTC