Tanks and military vehicles were stationed outside the presidential palace in Niger on Friday, following Thursday’s toppling of President Mamadou Tandja. Trucks with automatic machine guns were also positioned in front of the Prime Minister’s office and Foreign Affairs Ministry. The African Union’s chief Jean Ping condemned the coup and “seizure of power by force”.

Although there were no signs of further violence, armed soldiers were carrying out street patrols, while Niamey was reportedly calm following a night of curfew.

Military spokesman Colonel Goukoye Abdul Karim

Meanwhile, Jean Ping, the chair of the African Union, condemned “any unconstitutional change” on Friday, and called for the “speedy return to constitutional order”.

It is thought 71-year-old Tandja is being held in a barracks on the outskirts of Niamey after Thursday’s ousting.

The military junta, known as the Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy (CSRD), called for calm and closed the country’s borders.

Colonel Goukoye Abdul Karim, a spokesperson for the CSRD, said “we have decided to put an end to this tense political situation”.

Tandja had changed the constitution last August in order to allow himself to stay in office.

At least three soldiers were killed on Thursday in gun battles that followed the storming of the presidential palace during a cabinet meeting.