MEETING OF ECOWAS DEFENSE LEADERS TO TAKE PLACE AFTER NIGER COUP

Tunji Wusu –

The recent coup in the Republic of Niger will be discussed during a meeting of ECOWAS defense chiefs on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leadership threatened to use force against the junta and imposed sanctions on Niger on Sunday.

They granted the junta one week to release the hostage President Bazoum.
The junta warned that it would oppose any “plan of aggression against Niger” by Western or local powers in response.

Following the summit on Sunday in Nigeria, ECOWAS said that it had “zero tolerance” for coups.

In a statement, the regional bloc threatened to “take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order” if its demands weren’t met within a week.

Military chiefs would convene “immediately” to discuss an intervention strategy and “such measures may include the use of force,” according to the statement.