The West Africa regional bloc called military intervention in junta-ruled Niger a “last resort” as Nigeria cuts electricity supply to pressure coup leaders.
France sends a fifth plane to evacuate citizens while coup leader General Abdourahamane Tiani refuses to leave. The US partially evacuated its embassy in Niamey as West African military chiefs met in Abuja and a delegation negotiated in Niger following the recent coup.
ECOWAS leaders imposed sanctions, giving coup leaders one week to reinstate Niger’s elected president or face possible force. “The military option is the last resort, but we must prepare,” said Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security.
A team led by Abdulsalami Abubakar was in Niger for talks, he added at a meeting of military chiefs in Abuja. Nigeria, West Africa’s leading power, has pledged to take a strong stance against the surge in coups in the region since 2020.
In response, Nigeria has halted electricity supply to Niger, according to Nigelec, Niger’s power company. Niger relies on Nigeria for 70% of its power.
Mali and Burkina Faso, under junta rule, have warned against military intervention in Niger, calling it a “declaration of war” against them. General Salifou Mody, a Niger coup leader, arrived in Mali’s capital, Bamako, on Wednesday with a delegation.
In an interview on Malian state TV that evening, he emphasised the necessity for cooperation between the two nations. Russia urges urgent national dialogue in Niger, warns against intervention as it only escalates tensions and fails to calm the situation.
