The West African bloc Ecowas is meeting in Nigerian capital, Abuja on August 10th to discuss the coup in Niger, as the military junta refused to cave in to international pressure to stand down.
Economic Community of West African States is gathering in the Nigerian capital, Abuja. Ecowas meeting being organized after the coup leaders ignored a deadline to reinstate the ousted president after the power grab on 26 July. Ecowas’s deadline expired on August 6th, last night.
Niger witnessed the coup when on July 26, a military junta, led by Niger’s presidential guard, detained President Mohamed Bazoum. Abdourahmane Tchiani, the head of Niger’s presidential guard, appeared on state-run television and declared himself the head of a transitional government. The junta suspended Niger’s constitution.
Niger is a landlocked, Uranium rich country in West Africa. After the coup, Niger is facing sanctions imposed by Western Countries and by the West African bloc Ecowas. Regional and Western powers fear the coup will destabilize the Sahel region of West Africa.
Niger’s mutinous soldiers have closed the country’s airspace and accused foreign powers of preparing an attack.
West African leaders are meeting today to discuss Niger after coup leaders defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president or face the threat of military intervention.