West Africa’s cooperation body Ecowas gives the coup plotters in Niger a week to relinquish power and free President Mohamed Bazoum.
If this does not happen, the body does not rule out the use of force.
At the same time, Ecowas announces that it is cutting off relations with Niger and targeting economic sanctions against the country.
Ecowa’s announcement comes after a crisis meeting in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja.
– If the demands of the authorities are not met within a week, all necessary measures will be taken to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force, said chairman Omar Alieu Touray after the meeting.
Earlier on Sunday, the leaders of the coup claimed that the Ecowas military is threatening to enter Niger’s capital, Niamey.
During the day, thousands of supporters of the coup plotters also protested outside the French embassy in the capital Niamey to express their dissatisfaction with France.
The demonstrations outside the embassy come the day after the former colonial power announced that the country is withdrawing all aid and financial support to Niger due to the military coup.
The military coup in Niger took place on Wednesday when a group of uniformed soldiers announced that they had deposed the country’s democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum.
The leader of the coup plotters, who call themselves the “National Council for the Protection of the Homeland”, is army general Abdourahamane Tchiani.