West African defence chiefs were expected to complete up talks on possible intervention in Niger on Friday, as regional bloc mediators pressed coup leaders in Niamey to restore constitutional order before an impending deadline.
The Niger military junta is at odds with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has taken its strongest stance yet on President Mohamed Bazoum’s overthrow last week, the eighth coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.
The junta invalidated a slew of military cooperation agreements with France late Thursday, dashing hopes of reinstating the former status quo. France provided no quick response.
The move recalls similar actions made by juntas in neighboring Mali and Burkina Faso following coups, and it has the potential to radically alter a cooperative struggle against an Islamist insurgency.
France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger, where they are assisting in the fight against an insurgency connected to al Qaeda and the Islamic State that has destabilized West Africa’s Sahel area.
An ECOWAS delegation is in Niamey, seeking a conclusive and amicable resolution to the issue, despite the fact that the organization has imposed sweeping sanctions and threatened to use force if Bazoum is not reinstated by Sunday.
Abdourahamane Tiani, Niger’s self-proclaimed leader, has rejected the sanctions and stated that the junta will not back down in the face of any threats.
Later on Friday, the region’s defence chiefs will officially conclude a multi-day summit in the Nigerian city of Abuja to discuss a possible military response, which they have stated would be a last resort.
The junta stated on Thursday that any ECOWAS aggression or attempted aggression will be met with immediate retaliation on any ECOWAS member-state except those favorable to Niger.
Tiani has acquired the support of juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso, citing continuing insecurity as his main pretext for seizing power, despite data on attacks showing that security has actually improved.
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