The military coup plotters who executed a coup in Niger Republic has issued a stern warning to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against sending troops to the country to force them to relinquish power to President Mohamed Bazoum.
DAILY GIST earlier reported that ECOWAS issued a seven-day ultimatum to the military coupists in Niger Republic to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum as a democratically elected President or face a range of stiff sanctions.
ECOWAS stated that if the demand is not met within one week, all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, including the use of force, will be taken.
It also tasked all Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member-states to proceed for an emergency meeting to strategize on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore constitutional order to the country
The decision was made following an extraordinary session of the ECOWAS leaders states on Sunday, presided over by President Bola Tinubu, its chairman, at Presidential Villa in Abuja.
At the meeting, a resolution was reached to impose several sanctions on Niger over the military coup.
ECOWAS enforced a no-flight zone over the country following military takeover that has thrown the region into chaos.
Other sanctions include closure of Land and air borders between ECOWAS and Niger; Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS member states and Niger; Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions; Freeze assets of Niger Republic in all ECOWAS Central banks; Freeze all Niger State and the state enterprises and Parastatals in commercial banks; Suspension of Niger from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions; Impose travel bans on the military officials and their families involved in the coup attempt including anyone who accepts to take a position in the military government.
However reacting, Niger Republic military warned that should ECOWAS use military intervention, they are also fully ready to defend their country.
In a statement read on Niger national television on Sunday, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, and the military leaders in Niger warned against any military intervention.
“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,” Aljazeera quoted the military spokesperson, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, to have said.
