Niger’s ousted president has been seen for the first time since the military detained him in a coup last week, having met with Chad’s leader, Mahamat Idriss Déby Itno, in Niger’s capital, Niamey.

Mr Déby, who also met the coup leaders, is spearheading mediation efforts with authorization from leaders of the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS which also gave Niger’s military seven days to give up power amid several other sanctions.

Mr Déby was himself put in power by his country’s army after his father was killed fighting rebel forces in 2021.

The junta has not commented on the demands by ECOWAS, but it has vowed to defend Niger from any “aggression” by regional or Western powers, having accused the ousted government of authorising France to carry out an attack to try to free Mr Bazoum.

France did not confirm or deny the claim, but France and the US both have military bases in Niger.