After the latest coup in the jihadist-plagued Sahel region alarmed Africa and the West, African leaders gave the Niger junta one week to resign or face force, and they imposed financial sanctions.
In the third coup in as many years to fell a leader in the Sahel, Niger's elected president and Western ally, Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the military since Wednesday.
At an emergency summit in Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States regional bloc demanded Bazoum be reinstated within a week."Such measures may include the use of force for this effect," it said in a statement. It was not immediately clear how the 15-member ECOWAS could use force. Last year, the bloc agreed to create a regional security force to intervene against jihadists and prevent military coups, but details on the force and its funding have not been outlined.
The intervention would be "in cooperation with African countries who are not members of the regional body and certain Western nations", junta member Amadou Abdramane said on national television. The demonstrators later moved on to the French embassy in Niamey, shouting "long live Putin" and "down with France".Demonstrators also tried to storm the embassy, but were dispersed with tear gas, an AFP journalist saw.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
West African leaders meet over Niger coup, junta warns against interventionNiger’s military leaders warned against any armed intervention in the country as West African leaders are set to gather in Nigeria’s capital for an emergency summit to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order.
Read more »
'Exiled' Russian mercenary boss Prigozhin hails Niger coup, touts servicesThe Wagner Group's role in Africa is a source of concern for Western governments, including France and the United States.
Read more »
Niger loses aid as Western countries condemn coupNiger is one of the poorest countries in the world, receiving close to $2 billion a year in official development assistance, according to the World Bank.
Read more »
France and EU cut off financial support to Niger following military coupFrance and the EU have cut off financial support to Niger after a coup toppled the West African country’s democratically elected president.
Read more »
Putin says Russia does not reject talks with UkraineRussian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that an African initiative could be a basis for peace in Ukraine but that Ukrainian attacks made it hard to realize.
Read more »
Putin says Russia does not reject talks with UkraineRussian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that an African initiative could be a basis for peace in Ukraine but that Ukrainian attacks made it hard to realize. He was speaking at a press
Read more »