Niger Coup: West African Nations Threaten Use Of Force, Seek President's Reinstatement Within A Week

A powerful block of West African countries threaten the use of force, and ask Niger to reinstate President within a week.

West Africa countires' stern warning to Niger amid military coup.

A group of West African nations have imposed sanctions and threatened the use of force with Niger after a coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and dethroned country’s democratically elected government, Reuters reported. The bloc has also asked Niger to release and reinstate the President within a week. The deadline has been issued by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), The Guardian stated in a report. This comes as France denounced the violence that erupted outside its embassy in Niger. 

According to AFP, a junta took control of Niger in a coup this week and France’s embassy in Niger’s capital was attacked during pro-junta and pro-Russia protests on Sunday, as per The Guardian. 

The bloc said: "In the event the authorities’ demands are not met within one week, [we will] take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force. To this effect, the chiefs of defence staff of Ecowas are to meet immediately" 

President Bazoum was deposed by Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of Niger’s presidential guard. The Guardian mentioned that after the Wednesday coup, Tchiani was declared the head of state. 

Meanwhile, Ecowas also warned to suspend all commercial and financial transactions between Niger and the organisation’s 15 member states. As per the report, the group threatened to freeze the country’s assets in the bloc’s central banks after it met in Nigeria to discuss the crisis on Sunday. 

Notably, Ecowas and the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union are focusing on ways to restore President Bazoum. Niger’s new military junta has already said it is prepared to retaliate if any military interventions take place. 

According to The Guardian, Col Amadou Abdramane, a spokesperson for the junta, said in a statement read out on state TV on Saturday night: "The objective of the [Ecowas] meeting is to approve a plan of aggression against Niger through an imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with other African countries that are non-members of Ecowas and certain western countries. We want to once more remind Ecowas, or any other adventurer, of our firm determination to defend our homeland." 

On Saturday, the junta issued another statement requesting citizens to take to the streets to protest against Ecowas and back the new military leaders. 

The Niger coup has been widely condemned by neighbouring countries and international partners. They have also refused to recognise the new leadership.

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