The Latest Breaking News from Mali

France’s first evacuation plane left Niger on Tuesday with more than 250 people on board, Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said. France had said it planned to evacuate its nationals and EU citizens from the West African country following a military coup last Wednesday that unleashed protests against the former colonial…

In today’s newsletter: The country has been considered stable in an unstable region. So what sparked a coup – and what effects will it have?

Two military-ruled West African nations vowed Monday to prevent military intervention in Niger as a military junta attempts to consolidate power after a coup

Junta-led Burkina Faso and Mali warned Monday that any military intervention in Niger to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum would be considered a "declaration of war" against their two countries.

Niger’s neighbours say any intervention to restore deposed president will be considered a ‘declaration of war’.

At an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, on 30 July, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) demanded the “immediate release and reinstatement” of Niger’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum. He had been held by the military since 19 July.

Thousands of supporters of the junta that seized power in Niger last week have taken to the streets to wave Russian flags and sing the name of Vladimir Putin.

IN recent years it’s been derisively dubbed the “coup belt”.

The West African nation Niger is under military rule following a coup in which President Mohamed Bazoum was overthrown and held captive by members of his own guard.

Typing errors saw documents addressed to the west African country’s .ml domain, rather than the US military’s .mil.

As the world condemns the coup in Niger, analysts say the West still needs a presence there for an eye on the Sahel.