West African leaders give a week-long ultimatum to coup leaders in Niger and do not rule out the use of force

The leaders of the countries of Africa Western issued a week-long ultimatum this Sunday to the military who overthrew the president in Niger and they did not rule out resorting to force to restore constitutional order, while imposing financial sanctions.

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The head of state Mohamed Bazoum He has been held since Wednesday by the military in the presidential palace and on Friday the general Abdourahamane Tiani he proclaimed himself the new leader.

After the coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, Niger It was one of the last allies of the Western powers in the Sahel region, an area devastated by jihadist groups such as Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

The leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) agreed this Sunday at an emergency summit in Nigeria to give the coup leaders a one-week ultimatum.

The economic organization asked to restore the “constitutional order in the Republic of Niger” in “within a week” and indicated that if these demands are not met, “It will take all necessary measures.”

These measures may include the use of force”he added in a statement.

The organization did not specify how it can use force. Last year this bloc of 15 countries agreed to create a security contingent against jihadists and avoid military coups, but without developing this plan.

The ECOWAS also agreed “suspend all commercial and financial transactions” between its member states and Nigeraccording to the resolutions read at the end of the meeting.

The leaders also decided to freeze “the assets of the military officials involved in the coup attempt”.

Before the start of the summit, the coup leaders denounced an alleged plan of “imminent military intervention” by the countries of West Africa.

“The objective of this meeting is to validate a plan of aggression against Nigerthrough an imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with African countries that are not members of the organization and certain Western countries”according to a statement read by a board member Amadou Abdramane on national television.

Before the meeting in abujaUS Secretary of State, Anthony Blinkenassured him by telephone bazoumwho despite the isolation has been able to receive calls from some dignitaries, who has the “unwavering support” of Washington.

tiani justified the coup by stating that in the country there is a “deterioration of the security situation” by the violence of jihadist groups.

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A turbulent political history

After a wave of international convictions due to the coup, sanctions began to be announced.

France, which has 1,500 soldiers in Niger declared on Saturday that it is suspending development aid and budget support to this nation of West Africaone of the poorest countries in the world, which was a French colony.

For his part, the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrelldeclared that the bloc “does not and will not recognize the authorities” behind the coup and announced the indefinite suspension of security cooperation with Niger with immediate effect, as well as budget aid.

The African Union gave the military two weeks to restore the “constitutional authority”.

He also condemned “in the strongest possible terms” the overthrow of the elected government of bazoum and expressed deep concern about the “alarming resurgence” of military coups in Africa.

The military governments of Mali and Burkina Faso they have approached Russia after demanding the French soldiers leave their territory.

Nigera landlocked country, usually ranks last in the Index of UN Human Development, despite its vast uranium deposits.

Since its independence in 1960, the country has experienced a turbulent political history, with four coups d’état and numerous attempts, two of them against bazoum.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.