The European Union and France have cut off financial support to Niger and the United States has threatened to do the same following this week’s military coup, as the African Union called on the coup’s military leaders to return to their barracks.

The commander of Niger’s presidential guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, on Friday declared himself the head of a transitional government after his soldiers took President Mohamed Bazoum into custody on Wednesday.

The African Union also demanded the military in Niger “return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority” within 15 days since it grabbed power.

Tchiani previously led the resistance to a failed coup in March 2021, when troops tried to take over the presidential palace days before the swearing-in of the then-newly elected Bazoum.

The pro-West Bazoum’s election marked the first peaceful transfer of power since Niger gained its independence from France in 1960.

Al Jazeera’s Ahmed Idris reports from Abuja, in neighbouring Nigeria.

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