West African leaders convene a summit to address Niger junta's defiance of reinstating ousted president. US envoy dispatched to Niamey to advocate for democratic restoration. WestAfricanSummit NigerCrisis
Niger's junta supporters take part in a demonstration near an air base in Niamey, Niger, August 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVESNiger's junta supporters take part in a demonstration near an air base in Niamey, Niger, August 5, 2023. REUTERS/Mahamadou Hamidou NO RESALES. NO ARCHIVES
The bloc has not directly responded but said on Monday it would hold the Thursday summit to discuss the standoff, a decision the European Union and United States said allowed more time for mediation. In a further sign of its will to remain in power, the junta on Monday named former Finance Minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine as the new prime minister.
Landlocked Niger is more than twice the size of France and many flight paths across Africa would normally pass above it. Air France suspended flights to and from Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso and Bamako in Mali, which both border Niger, until Aug. 11 and warned that some flight times would increase. Both countries sent delegations to Niamey to show solidarity, the Malian army said on social media on Monday. Later, a representative of the Malian delegation reiterated his country’s backing for the junta.
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Niger waits for West African bloc's response after junta rejects ultimatumNiger was waiting on Monday for a response from the West African regional bloc after coup leaders in Niamey ignored a deadline to reinstate the ousted president - a move the bloc has warned could lead it to authorise a military intervention.
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Niger awaits West African bloc's response after junta rejects ultimatumNiger was waiting on Monday for a response from the West African regional bloc after coup leaders ignored a deadline to reinstate the ousted president - a move the bloc has warned could lead to military intervention.
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West African leaders to meet on Niger after junta defies deadlineWest African leaders will discuss Niger on Thursday after the junta that seized power there on July 26 defied a deadline to reinstate the ousted president or face the threat of military intervention, a spokesman for the regional bloc said on Monday.
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France backs West African efforts to make Niger coup fail - SABC NewsFrance will support efforts by the West African regional grouping ECOWAS to make the military coup in Niger fail, the French foreign ministry said on Saturday.
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Caution Urged Over Military Intervention Against Niger CoupAs pressure builds on the Niger coup leaders to back down in the face of military intervention from other West African nations, voices in Nigeria and from outside the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) are urging caution. While Ecowas has given a deadline for return to democratic rule, and the group's defence ministers have drawn up a plan for military action against Niger's junta, Nigeria's Senate is calling for stepped-up political and diplomatic activity to end the crisis. Outside the Ecowas grouping, Chad and Algeria are opposed to military intervention. Writing in Abuja-based Premium Times, Kingsley Moghalu, a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, writes that military intervention "could get very messy and protracted." He adds: "Yes, Nigeria's natural leadership role in West Africa means we can't take a back seat in the unfolding crisis. But we are not well positioned now, internally, to drive a military intervention to restore democracy in Niger."
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