In the hours before the West African regional body ECOWAS urged that the coup leaders restore President Mohamed Bazoum to office or face military force, Niger’s official media made the announcement on Sunday night.
In his televised address, coup spokesperson, Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said “The National Council for the Safeguard of the Country is launching a vibrant appeal to its youth, the noble sons and daughters of our country, that they be ready to defend our country.”
The Sahel region of West Africa, which already struggles with military takeovers, the spread of Islamic extremism, and a turn by some states towards Russia and its proxy, the Wagner mercenary group, has grown even more complicated in the wake of the July 26 coup, in which mutinous soldiers installed Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani as head of state.
Tchiani, who analysts claim orchestrated the coup to escape being fired, was unable to meet with an ECOWAS team.
While cutting security ties with erstwhile colonizer France, the junta has now turned to Wagner for help.
The neighbouring countries of Mali and Burkina Faso, both ruled by juntas, have stated that an intervention would be a “declaration of war” against them as well. Algeria and Chad, non-ECOWAS neighbours with substantial militaries in the region, have also stated that they reject the use of force and will not engage militarily in the conflict.
What ECOWAS will do next was not immediately obvious on Sunday.
