Niger’s military leaders have warned against any armed intervention in the country as West African heads of state gather in Nigeria’s capital for an emergency summit to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order.
Heads of state of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union, also known by its French acronym UEMOA, could suspend Niger from their institutions, cut off the country from the regional central bank and financial market, and close borders.
General Abdourahmane Tchiani – also known as Omar Tchiani, and the chief of Niger’s presidential guard – has declared himself leader while the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, has been held by the military since the coup took place last week.
Ahead of the Sunday ECOWAS summit, the military leaders in Niger warned against any military intervention in a statement read on Niger national television on Saturday night.
“The objective of the [ECOWAS] meeting is to approve a plan of aggression against Niger through an imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with other African countries that are non-members of ECOWAS, and certain Western countries,” military spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said.
“We want to once more remind ECOWAS or any other adventurer of our firm determination to defend our homeland,” he said.
Source: Aljazeera.com
