West African leaders to meet over Niger as military junta rejects demands

(Patria) - West African leaders have scheduled a summit for Thursday to discuss the Nigerien junta's rejection of an ultimatum to reinstate the ousted president, Reuters reports.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) told the coup plotters to step down by Sunday or face military intervention. But the junta, under self-proclaimed head of state General Abdourahamane Tchiani, formerly commander of the presidential guard, instead closed the airspace and vowed to defend the country.

Niger's uranium and oil reserves and its key role in the fight against Islamist militants in the Sahel region give it economic and strategic importance for the United States, Europe, China and Russia.

The coup leaders in Niamey have repeatedly reiterated their resolve to remain firm and to fight if necessary. As an additional sign of their will to remain in power, the junta on Monday appointed former finance minister Ali Mahamane Lamine Zeine as the new prime minister.

The coup leaders have also called on the youth to be ready to defend the country.
ECOWAS has taken a harder line on the coup, the seventh in the region in three years, than in previous ones. The 15-nation club's credibility is at stake as it has said it will not tolerate further coups. ECOWAS defence chiefs agreed on Friday on a possible plan for military action if detained President Mohamed Bazoum is not released and reinstated, although they said heads of state would decide on operational decisions.

But the bloc's unity has been undermined by the promise of the ruling juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso, both member states, to defend Niger if necessary. Both countries sent delegations to Niamey to show solidarity, the Malian army announced on social media on Monday. Later, a representative of the Malian delegation reiterated his country's support for the junta.

A rift within ECOWAS and an escalation of conflict with Niger would further destabilize one of the world's poorest regions, already grappling with a hunger crisis and an Islamist insurgency that has killed thousands and displaced millions.

African and Western allies have imposed sanctions and cut aid to Niger to pressure the junta to step down. The US State Department said "hundreds of millions of dollars" in US aid were at stake if the country's junta did not restore the elected government.