Nigerian rebels vow to respond to ‘any aggression’ by ECOWAS
“Any aggression or attempted aggression against Niger will entail an immediate and urgent response by Nigerian forces,” AFP quoted one of the coup’s participants as saying.
The rebels that seized power in Niger in late July pledged to immediately respond to “any aggression or attempted aggression” on the part of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as per AFP.
“Any aggression or attempted aggression against Niger will entail an immediate and urgent response by the Nigerien forces,” the agency quoted one of the coup’s participants as saying.
On July 26, a group of rebel army officers announced the ousting of President Mohamed Bazoum, the closure of the republic’s borders, a curfew, the suspension of the constitution, and a ban on the political parties’ activities.
On July 28, the plotters proclaimed General Abdurahmane Tchiani the head of state. During the coup, he led the presidential guard, whose units detained Bazoum and continue to keep him in custody in his residence.
According to Nigerien politicians, the president is in good health, he is communicating with other leaders and government by phone but is not allowed to leave his residence.
During an emergency summit on July 30, ECOWAS leaders condemned the coup and demanded that the rebels immediately release the president and reinstate the constitutional order in that country. ECOWAS countries gave the Nigerien military one week to fulfil these demands and did not exclude the use of force in case these demands are not met.
Meanwhile the military leadership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has given up its intention to use force against Niger where insurgents seized power in a state coup, the Al Arabiya TV Channel reported on Friday, citing a statement by the regional bloc’s defence ministers.
ECOWAS will not resort to military intervention against Niger but will intensify sanctions pressure to make the insurgents free the republic’s president Mohamed Bazoum.
At their extraordinary summit held on July 30, the leaders of the ECOWAS member states demanded that the insurgents who had seized power in Niger release and reinstate President Bazoum and fully restore constitutional order in the republic. The ECOWAS states also gave the Niger insurgents a one-week deadline to meet these demands.
The West African regional bloc vowed “to take all measures” against the insurgents “necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger” and did not rule out “the use of force.”
Speaking on national television on August 2, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, chairman of the National Council for the Rescue of the Homeland, the country’s central authority after the coup, declared that Niger would not yield to regional and international pressure aimed at reinstating President Bazoum.
He called on the people of Niger to be prepared for defending the homeland in the face of external threats.
Meanwhile, Niger’s politicians said that Bazoum was “in fine condition” and talked to leaders and representatives of governments from other countries over the phone but was banned from leaving the residence.
