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Military officers in Niger have carried out a coup, suspended all state institutions and closed the country's borders. The President Mohamed Bazoum has been held by troops from the presidential guard since early on Wednesday.
There has been widespread condemnation of the coup including from Michael Shurkin at the Atlantic Council's Africa Centre, who described it as "worse than an own goal, a case of self harm". Benin's president, Patrice Talon, has arrived in the capital Niamey on a mediation mission but Shurkin tells Newsday's Beverly Ochieng why he doesn't think this will be fruitful or there is anything in the region that can be done to help.

(Image: Soldiers appearing on national TV in Niger to announce the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum on July 27, 2023, Credit: Getty Images)