The regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), following an emergency meeting on Sunday, announced that it would consider “force” to oust the leaders of a coup d’etat in Niger last week, rejecting their authority and declaring “zero tolerance for unconstitutional change of government.” ECOWAS is currently led by neighboring Nigeria, the largest economy on the continent.

Niger’s neighbors threatened military intervention in the West African country if ousted President Mohamed Bazoum is not returned to power by Aug. 6, raising the pressure on the mutineers who plunged the nation into turmoil by overthrowing its democratically elected leader last week. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia’s war in Ukraine. In a Sunday communiqué, leaders of ECOWAS, or the Economic Community of West African States comprising 15 African nations, condemned Bazoum’s detention as an “attempted coup d’état” and said they...

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African nations have given Niger’s coup leaders one week to reinstate the country’s democratically elected president and have threatened to use force if the demands aren’t met. The announcement came at the end of an emergency meeting of West African countries Sunday in Nigeria, where the regional bloc, known as ECOWAS, convened to respond to last week’s military takeover. President Mohamed Bazoum remains under house arrest and has yet to resign. “In the event the authority’s demands are not met within one week, (the bloc...

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African nations have given one week to reinstate the country’s democratically elected president and have threatened to use force if the demands aren’t met. The announcement came at the end of an emergency meeting of West African countries Sunday in Nigeria, where the regional bloc, known as ECOWAS, convened to respond to . President remains under house arrest and has yet to resign. “In the event the authority’s demands are not met within one week, (the bloc will) take all measures necessary to restore constitutional...

Niger's ousted president has been seen for the first time since the military detained him after staging a coup last week. Mr Déby said his mediation effort was aimed at finding a "peaceful solution to the crisis which is shaking" Niger, which borders Chad. He did not give further details, but his office released a photo of him sitting next to a smiling Mr Bazoum. He was sent to Niger by leaders of the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, who said on Sunday that the junta had a week to...

Niger's new junta on Monday accused former colonial ruler France of wanting to "intervene militarily" to reinstate deposed President Mohamed Bazoum.

"In its search for ways and means to intervene militarily in Niger, France with the complicity of some Nigeriens, held a meeting with the chief of staff of the Nigerien national guard to obtain the necessary political and military authorisation needed," said a statement read out on national television.

July 31 (Reuters) - The Niger military junta that seized power last week said on Monday that the toppled government had authorised France to carry out strikes to try to free President Mohamed Bazoum.

The comments were made by army Colonel Amadou Abdramane, one of the coup plotters, on state television.