The military junta that staged a coup in the West African nation of Niger has spoken of a possible military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), AFP reports.
“The purpose of this meeting is to authorize an invasion of Niger,” the Niger military warned ahead of an ECOWAS summit later in the day, “which will take the form of a military intervention in the capital, Niamey, in collaboration with African countries that are not members of the regional organization and some Western countries.”
In Niger, military forces staged a coup on June 26 and detained President Mohamed Bazoum.
The head of the presidential guard, Abdoulahmane Tiaani, who led the coup, later declared himself head of state.
The African Union (AU) subsequently called on the coup-led forces to return to their posts and restore constitutional order within 15 days, while the European Union (EU) said it could not recognize the military junta and suspended financial aid and security cooperation to Niger.
ECOWAS, a grouping of 15 countries in the West African region, is holding an emergency summit in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss the situation in Niger, and has stated that it will take all necessary measures, 먹튀검증 including suspension of membership and economic sanctions, to defend democracy in Niger.
ECOWAS has suspended the membership of three other member states, Guinea, Mali and Burkina Faso, which have been under military rule since 2020 following a series of coups.