The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Sunday handed down a one-week ultimatum to the military junta in Niger to restore the legitimate government of President Mohamed Bazoum or face the consequences.
Chaired by Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu, the West African leaders also mandated all Chiefs of Defence Staff across the member nations to immediately meet in consideration of forceful measures to restore Bazoum to power.
The decision was reached at the meeting of heads of ECOWAS nations in its emergency meeting held in Abuja, the Nigerian capital, on Sunday.
Two days after staging a coup Wednesday last week, head of the Niger Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tchiani was declared as president of the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland on Friday.
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Appearing on state television, the general said soldiers had seized power, claiming the intervention was due to the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel country.
Disgruntled members of the presidential guard had on Wednesday sacked elected President Mohamed Bazoum after he was held hostage since Wednesday morning.
The disgruntled soldiers also warned external forces to steer clear of the country.
World leaders have however condemned the overthrow of constitutional government in Niger with calls for the release of the detained president.
Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken called for the immediate release of Bazoum in the aftermath of his sack by soldiers in the country.
President Tinubu, had while reacting to the seizure of his Nigerien counterpart, warned that coup plots would no longer be acceptable in the region.
