After the elected president is overthrown, here’s why it matters for the region, Russia and the West.

Economically, it is rich in uranium - producing 7% of all global supplies. The radioactive metal looms so large in the country’s economy that one of the grandest thoroughfares in the capital, Niamey, is named the Avenue de l’Uranium.

However, Niger’s people consistently rank as having the lowest standards of living anywhere in the world.