The West African bloc ECOWAS stands ready to intervene militarily in Niger should diplomatic efforts to reverse a coup there fail, a senior official told army chiefs who were meeting in Ghana on Thursday to discuss the details of a standby force.
Hundreds of supporters of the coup gather and hold a Russian an Niger flags in front of the National Assembly in the capital Niamey, Niger July 27, 2023.Hundreds of supporters of the coup gather and hold a Russian an Niger flags in front of the National Assembly in the capital Niamey, Niger July 27, 2023.
The West African bloc Ecowas stands ready to intervene militarily in Niger should diplomatic efforts to reverse a coup there fail, a senior official told army chiefs who were meeting in Ghana on Thursday to discuss the details of a standby force.
Musah strongly criticised the junta’s announcement that it had elements to put Bazoum, who is being detained, on trial for treason. The United Nations, European Union and Ecowas have all expressed concerns over the conditions of his detention. “The irony of it is that somebody who is in a hostage situation himself… is being charged with treason. When did he commit high treason is everybody’s guess,” Musah said.
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Africa Live: West African army chiefs in Ghana over Niger coupThe West African bloc Ecowas backs military deployment to reinstate the ousted president - and more.
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Ex-Nigerian Central Bank Head Sanusi Meets Coup Leader in NigerLamido Sanusi, the spiritual leader (Khalifah) of the Tijaniyah Islamic movement in Nigeria and former Governor of the Nigerian Central Bank, met in Niamey on Wednesday August 9, 2023 with General Abdourahamane Tchiani, leader of the junta that ousted the elected President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum. Sanusi is a close ally of Nigerian president and current Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) chairperson Bola Tinubu, who has said diplomacy is "the way forward" for restoring constitutional order in Niger. The junta has rejected a proposed visit by representatives of the Ecowas, the United Nations and the African Union, citing "evident reasons of security in this atmosphere of menace" against Niger. Ecowas has imposed sanctions and has threatened to take military action to return Bazoum to power. On August 7, U.S. Acting Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland spent two hours in Niamey talking with some of the coup leaders, principally the new armed forces chief of staff, Brig. Gen. Moussa Salaou Barmou, to "express our grave concern regarding developments in Niger and our resolute commitment to supporting the democracy and constitutional order". Nuland called the talks "extremely frank and at times quite difficult". Her request to see Bazoum was denied, and she also was not able to meet with Tchiani. On August 8, U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone with Bazoum to convey "ongoing support for a solution that restores Niger to democratic rule and constitutional order". The West African country's military rulers took power in a coup in late July 2023. Ecowas plans to meet in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Thursday August 10 to discuss how to deal with the coup in that country after Niger closed its airspace and ignored a seven-day deadline by Ecowas to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.
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Niger's Junta-Appointed Prime Minister Visits ChadNiger's military-appointed prime minister, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine, visited neighbouring Chad on Tuesday August 15, 2023. Deutsche Welle reports that Zeine spoke with Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby, who took power in Chad contrary to measures outlined in the constitution following the death of his father, the former president. Chad has been under military rule since April 2021. Earlier, leaders of the coup in Niger on Tuesday (August 15, 2023) recalled the country's ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire. RFI reported that Colonel Amadou Abdramane, a spokesman for the junta, said the ambassador had returned to Niamey for consultations. The move follows comments by Ivorian president Alassane Ouattara in which he said he was prepared to provide troops for any military intervention in Niger. RFI also reports that the African Union brought together representatives from Niger and the West African block Ecowas on Monday for the latest talks aimed at resolving the crisis in the country, where a military junta has seized power and is holding elected president Mohamed Bazoum captive. Niger's defence ministry said late on Tuesday August 15 that 17 soldiers were killed in an attack by suspected militants in the western part of the country. A defence ministry statement said its forces were ambushed near the town of Koutougou, which is located near Niger's borders with Mali and Burkina Faso.
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