Following a military-led takeover in the West African country of Niger, the Interior Ministry has banned all demonstrations with immediate effect.

“Public demonstrations, for whatever reason, are and will remain banned until further notice,” the ministry said.

It added that the measure is to protect citizens in the country of around 26 million inhabitants.

Officers of the presidential guard detained Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, elected in 2021, in his palace on Wednesday.

That evening, 10 military officers announced on television that the so-called National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP) had taken power.

Niger’s armed forces on Thursday officially backed the coup leaders’ call to end Bazoum’s term in office.

Opposition parties are also backing the coup, according to local media reports.

It remained unclear at first which and how many parties were behind it.

The authors called for demonstrations on Friday.

On Thursday, during pro-coup protests, supporters attacked and ransacked the headquarters of the presidential party in Niamey.

The United Nations, the United States, the European Union and ECOWAS strongly condemn the attempted destabilisation in Niger.

(dpa/NAN)