West African Regional bloc ECOWAS on Sunday gave an ultimatum of one week to the military junta that took power in Niger earlier last week, to return the country to constitutional normalcy.
Thousands of supporters of the military junta responded by taking to the streets of the capital, Niamey, waving Russian flags and denouncing former colonial power, France.
Pleaded one Niamey resident, Omar Baomoussa: “I would like to say the European Union, African Union and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), please stay out of our business”.
In a statement, published after the emergency meeting, held in Abuja in Nigeria, the regional bloc did not exclude the use of force.
Colonel Major Amadou Abdramane, spokesperson for Niger coup leaders, responded with determination.
Said he: “The objective of this meeting is to agree to a plan of aggression against Niger through an imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with African nations, not members of the organisation and certain Western countries. We remind ECOWAS once more of our firm determination to defend our country”.
The mutineers said they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago in Niger’s first peaceful, democratic transfer of power since independence from France, because he was not able to secure the nation from growing jihadi violence.
