According to a report, General Tchiani has named himself president of Niger following a coup he organised with the assistance of the presidential guard he has been commanding since 2011. Reportedly, the coup leaders have held their first meeting with government officials and have explained that the reasons for the coup were president Bazoum’s policy and the security situation in the country. According to the report, president Tchiani said the country needed to change its course in order to avoid gradual and inevitable demise. Reportedly, the situation on the ground remains relatively calm.