Economic and travel sanctions were imposed on Niger’s coup plotters by the leaders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), who convened an extraordinary meeting on Saturday.

ECOWAS gave the coup plotters a one-week ultimatum to hand over power to the African country’s elected government, not ruling out the use of force.

In particular, ECOWAS demanded the immediate release of President Mohammed Bazoum and the absolute return to constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, according to the resolution read at the end of the emergency session, presided over by Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu.

If these demands are not met within one week, ECOWAS will take all necessary measures and these may include the use of force, the resolution states, adding that for this reason, the Chiefs of Staff of the States-members of ECOWAS must meet immediately.

In addition, the Economic Community of West African States has decided to suspend all trade and financial transactions between its member-states and Niger as well as freezing the funds of the coup leaders.

Opening the proceedings of the session, Tinubu condemned the hostage-taking of President Bazum and stressed, among other things, that now is not the time for alarm bells, but for taking action.

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Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso did not attend the meeting, as their membership has been suspended and these states are also led by coup d’états.

Instead, the meeting was attended by the president of Chad, Mohamed Idris Debi Itno. Chad was invited, although it is not a member of ECOWAS. It borders Niger, it is considered a military power in the Sahel region, and is a close ally of France.

In late 2022, ECOWAS established a regional military arm tasked with intervening against jihadists, but also in cases of coups.

Meanwhile, thousands of supporters of members of Niger’s presidential guard who seized power in a coup are protesting in the streets of the capital Niamey, holding Russian flags and chanting the name of Russian President, Vladimir Putin. In this way, they strongly denounce the presence of French forces in the country.

France condemned the violence and asked local authorities to protect its embassy. On Saturday, the Elysees and the French Foreign Ministry announced the suspension of aid to Niger.

For its part, the Niamey junta has denounced the ECOWAS emergency meeting, saying its purpose is to ratify a plan to attack Niger.

The African Union has given Niger’s junta a 15-day ultimatum to reinstate the country’s democratically elected government.

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