Niger’s Coup: ECOWAS to convene on August 10 for political deliberations

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for an extraordinary summit scheduled for Thursday, August 10.

The summit aims to deliberate on the political situation in Niger, following the recent coup in the region.

The meetinng is expected to be held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital and chaired by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s President and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

Meanwhile, the leaders of Niger’s recent coup have taken the extraordinary step of closing the nation’s airspace indefinitely. The decision, attributed to concerns over potential military invasion from neighboring countries, signifies the tense and volatile atmosphere following the coup.

This comes on the back of a stern warning issued by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), a regional bloc of 15 West African nations. ECOWAS had signaled its willingness to employ force unless President Mohamed Bazoum was reinstated by not reinstated by 23:00 GMT on Sunday.

The coup leaders, however, remained defiant, with a junta spokesman asserting that Niger’s armed forces are prepared to defend the country.

The coup, which led to the detention of President Bazoum on July 26, saw General Abdourahmane Tchiani proclaiming himself the new leader. The international community, including France, the European Union, the United Nations, and the United States, has condemned the military takeover.