The French president’s comments came as western powers scrambled to preserve a key ally in a region that has been destabilised by jihadist insurgencies, coups, and interventions by the Wagner mercenary group as Russian flags appeared at prominent sites around Niger’s capital, Niamey.

Macron, who was visiting Papua New Guinea, called for the release of the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, and said: “This coup is completely illegitimate and profoundly dangerous, for Nigeriens, for Niger and for the whole region.”