Niger's armed force on Thursday declared its support for troops who announced they had seized power, despite a defiant stand by the country's president, Mohamed Bazoum.

In the latest turbulence to shake the coup-prone Sahel, Bazoum was confined on Wednesday by members of his presidential guard.

On Thursday his ruling party's headquarters was attacked by youths, hours later, their leaders, calling themselves the Defence and Security Forces (FDS), declared they had "decided to put an end to the regime," and all institutions were being suspended, the borders closed and a night-time curfew imposed.

As African and international organisations condemned the declared takeover and allies France and the United States voiced support for Niger's elected leader, Bazoum stood his ground.

"The hard-won gains will be safeguarded, All Nigeriens who love democracy and freedom would want this."he said on Twitter, which is being rebranded as X.

Foreign Minister Hassoumi Massoudou said Niger's "legal and legitimate power" was the one exercised by its elected president.