Breaking: Niger President Mohamed Bazoum is currently being held by dissatisfied members of the elite Presidential Guard, who, in response, have been issued an "ultimatum" by the army, according to a source close to Bazoum.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc, has condemned this incident, referring to it as an "attempted coup," and has demanded the immediate and unconditional release of President Bazoum.

Bazoum, a close ally of France, was elected in 2021 to lead a nation burdened by poverty and a long history of instability.

On Wednesday morning, members of the Presidential Guard sealed off access to the president's residence and offices. After failed negotiations, they refused to release the president, leading the army to issue them an ultimatum, as per the anonymous presidential source.

The reason behind the guards' anger has not been disclosed. Despite the blockage of access to the presidential complex in Niamey, there were no reports of abnormal military deployment or gunfire in the area, and traffic appeared normal.

Niger, a landlocked Sahel state, has witnessed four coups since gaining independence from France in 1960, as well as several other attempts to seize power, including against President Bazoum himself. The country's history of coups makes it prone to such incidents.

The nation faces challenges like poverty and the presence of jihadist groups in the southwest and southeast regions, which have triggered humanitarian crises and put strains on the economy.

It is worth noting that Niger's military receives training and support from the United States and France, with the latter using the country as a hub for its anti-jihadist operations in the Sahel region. French forces have reconfigured their operations in Mali and Burkina Faso due to political disputes with those countries.