July 30, (THEWILL) – Niger’s junta have warned against any armed intervention in the country. The warning is coming ahead of an emergency Summit of ECOWAS leaders in Abuja.
The heads of state of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the eight-member West African Economic and Monetary Union, are due to meet on Sunday in Abuja.
THEWILL reports that top on the agenda of the meeting, chaired by Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, includes the suspension of Niger from the regional bloc, as well as the central bank and financial market.
The West African leaders are focused on ways to restore President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted when Gen Abdourahamane Tchiani was declared the new head of state.
“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. We want to once more remind ECOWAS or any other adventurer, of our firm determination to defend our homeland”, junta spokesperson Colonel Amadou Abdramane said in a statement on Saturday night.
The junta issued a second statement on Saturday night, inviting citizens in the capital to take to the streets from 7 am local time, to protest against ECOWAS and show support for the new military leaders.
