Renegade soldiers in armoured vehicles stormed Niger’s presidential palace with a hail of gunfire in broad daylight, kidnapping the country’s strongman president then appearing on state television to declare a successful coup.

Niger’s president was missing today after gunmen stormed his palace amid heavy gunfire.

Security forces in Niger arrested the country's main Opposition leader hours after he called for a general strike and accused the president of carrying out the equivalent of a coup by unilaterally dissolving the nation's top court.

Dalatou Mamane, Zinder

Niger’s president played down the food crisis ravaging his desert nation, saying that people in the impoverished West African country “look well-fed”.

While mothers continue to bring children weak with hunger to feeding centres in Niger, market stalls are filled with food – but at prices well out of the reach of many in this desperately poor nation.