On July 26, Niger suffered a coup, or perhaps a show of force that escalated into a coup. Soon, a group of military officers proclaimed themselves the Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie (National Council for Safeguarding the Homeland, CNSP). Other theories on triggers for the coup (see below) are compatible with Tchiani’s self-interest being one major factor; the coup can be understood as multi-causal. Tchiani’s move against Bazoum also opens up questions about the triangular relationship between Bazoum, Tchiani, and Niger’s immediate past president, Mahamadou Issoufou. Yet this coup was, to a much greater extent than in Mali or Burkina Faso, a senior officers’ coup.