Niger coup mastermind declares himself leader

NIAMEY, July 28 (Al Jazeera): Abdourahmane Tchiani, head of Niger's presidential guard, has named himself head of a transitional government in the West African country, two days after his unit overthrew democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.

He made the announcement on Friday on state-run television, saying he was the "president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland".

The 62-year-old general also said the intervention had been necessary to avoid "the gradual and inevitable demise" of the country.

There was no mention of a timeline for return to civilian leadership. Tchiani who was drafted to lead the elite unit in 2015, is from Niger's western region of Tillaberi, a main recruitment area for the army. He remains a close ally of former President Mahamadou Issoufou - the politician who led the country until 2021.