Niger Coup: West African nations impose economic, travel sanctions

Niamey [Niger]: Imposing economic and travel sanctions on the Niger military coup leaders on Sunday, the West African nations have threatened to use force if President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week, reported Al Jazeera.

The military has held Niger's elected president, Bazoum, since Wednesday in the third attempt to depose a Sahelian leader in as many years.

The formidable presidential guard's commander, General Abdourahmane Tiani, has declared himself the leader.

On Sunday, the 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc asked Bazoum to be reinstated within a week at an emergency conference held in Nigeria. If not, the bloc threatened to use "all measures" to reestablish the rule of law.

In a statement, it warned that "Such measures may include the use of force for this effect," and that the ECOWAS defence chiefs would convene later on Sunday Along with imposing financial penalties, the bloc also banned "all commercial and financial transactions" between its members and Niger, one of the world's poorest countries that frequently comes in last on the UN's Human Development Index, according to Al Jazeera.

Bazoum is one of the few remaining elected presidents and pro-Western figures in the Sahel, where armed uprisings that began in 2020 have since led to coups in Mali and Burkina Faso.

(ANI)