Gen. Abdourahamane Tchiani, the former commander of Niger’s Presidential Guard, staged a coup against President Mohamed Bazoum, who succeeded Mahamadou Issoufou in 2021. Gen. Tchiani had previously thwarted a coup attempt as the Presidential Guard commander. Tensions grew between the military and Bazoum’s administration as security and economic challenges persisted. Gen. Tchiani’s rapid rise to power was influenced by regional examples of successful military coups and domestic power struggles. However, his coup has geopolitical implications, with implications for U.S. and French interests, as neighboring countries turned to private military groups like Wagner for security. The West African community has issued an ultimatum for the junta to restore democracy.