Junta in power in Niger vows immediate response to any aggression by ECOWAS

The National Council for the Safeguarding of the Country, the junta in power in Niger, said Thursday August 3 it would respond immediately to any “aggression or attempted aggression” against it by West African countries to restore elected leader Mohamed Bazoum.

“Any aggression or attempted aggression against the State of Niger will see an immediate and unannounced response from the Niger Defense and Security Forces on one of (the bloc’s) members,” said Amadou Abdramane, the spokesperson of the country, in a read of a declaration on State television.
The remarks came as the one-week ultimatum given by the regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) looms.

The block met urgently on last Sunday in Nigeria’s capital of Abuja to condemn the removal on July 26 of President Mohamed Bazoum. The leaders of the region also gave until Sunday this week to restore the 2021 elected leader or face military intervention.
Adbdramane also indicated that all military cooperation and protocols have been terminated with France, former colonial master. The declaration also indicated that the country has recalled its ambassadors in Paris, Abuja, Lome and Washington.

“”The functions of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger” to France, Nigeria, Togo and the United States “are terminated”, it said.