West African military chiefs meet in Abuja over Niger coup

Military Chiefs from some West African countries have arrived the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, for a high-powered delegation meeting over current activities of military juntas in the Republic of Niger. Our correspondent, who is covering the meeting, reports that the seats allocated to Mali, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Burkina Faso military chiefs are currently vacant. […]

Military Chiefs from some West African countries have arrived the Defence Headquarters in Abuja, for a high-powered delegation meeting over current activities of military juntas in the Republic of Niger.

Our correspondent, who is covering the meeting, reports that the seats allocated to Mali, Guinea Bissau, Niger and Burkina Faso military chiefs are currently vacant.

The military chiefs who are currently on the ground include Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Gambia, Cote’Divoire, Cabo Verde and Republic of Benin.

The meeting is being chaired by the chairman of ECOWAS military chief, Gen. Christopher Musa.

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Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had on Sunday given Niger coupists one-week ultimatum to restore democratic order in the country or risk military action.

Nigerien President Mohammed Bazoum has been held in his palace since last week by the nation’s Presidential Guard.

On Friday, General Abdourahamane Tchiani, Head of the Presidential Guard, was announced as the country’s new leader.

Tchiani, who has headed the position since 2011, said the coup was the military’s response to “the degradation of the security situation” linked to jihadist bloodshed.

In response to ECOWAS’ threat to use force upon the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum, the Niger military issued a warning about “the consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention,” saying, “Certain dignitaries…are in thinking of confrontation,” which “will end in nothing but the massacre of the Nigerien population and chaos.”