Niger border closed
 

A coup has taken place in Niger and the president has been captured after a gun battle in the capital, Niamey. In a televised announcement, a spokesman for the plotters said Niger's constitution had been suspended and all state institutions dissolved.
The junta imposed a curfew and closed the country's borders.
President Mamadou Tandja, in power for more than a decade in the uranium-rich nation, is believed to be in captivity at a military barracks.
Reports say government ministers are also being held.

Source: BBC News - Military coup ousts Niger president Mamadou Tandja

Although the border is now open there is not such great news coming out of north Niger in the last week or so - scroll down the whole Yahoo link below. It looks like Kobus (on Sahara Forum, coning from Algeria) got off quite lightly and circumventing Assamaka won't help much - being in a genuine, armed military convoy might.

Then again, a part of 40 French cars got through about the same time as K, seemingly unscathed.

Yahoo! Groupes

Chris S