The question is if what is best for Niger and its people is any...

The question is if what is best for Niger and its people is any consideration for the coup players, or if this is simply an ordinary power grap with only there own best interests in mind.... These guys where the presidential guard so their role was protecting the president and the democratically elected government.

What they did appears to be straight up treason. These guys don't seem to have any governmental credentials and certainly don't have any mandate to rule the country besides happening to have a bunch of weapons and acces to the president.

Niger receives about $2billion USD in international aid per year constituting about 40% of governmental spending, almost all was supplied by the West and big chunck from EU countries with France chipping in more than its fair share.

France also stations 1500 troops in Niger to fight Islamic terrorists.

The Uranium Niger supplies to France and the West in general is worth much less than the value of support provided by France and the West in general. However anti colonial sentiments are strong although maybe no longer appropriate. They are easily exploited by Junta's and fed by Russian propaganda.

Furthermore ECOwas countries have sanctioned Niger and Nigeria has cut power to Niger which receives most of its power from Nigeria. ECOwas is also threatening to intervene with force.

to sum up: Regardless of anyone's opinion on the elected government, the current military Junta has zero mandate and the current situation is likely to negatively impact the people of Niger. France has little influence but is being portrait as the evil overlord as an excuse for a power grap.

The best outcome both for Niger and any EEL stock holders would be a quick restoration of the democratic process, hopefully bloodless.

Nigeriens are free to vote for a government that would ask French troops to leave. Mining rights are more complicated as several of the mines are French owned and build, but Niger can create laws to get a bigger peace of the pie. However they already receive much more money than the U is worth. They are no longer a victim of France or the West.