“Any aggression or attempted aggression against the State of Niger will entail an immediate and unannounced response from the Niger Defense and Security Forces to any of the members (…),” it said. “Friendly countries” are exempt from this, stressed the putschist, referring to the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali.
The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) had ordered an economic blockade against Niger in response to the coup and demanded that ousted President Mohamed Bazoum be reinstated within seven days. This ultimatum expires on Sunday. The states declared that they were prepared to intervene militarily as a “last option” should negotiations fail.
The putschists accused the former colonial power France of a “careless reaction to the situation” on Thursday and declared that the “cooperation agreements in the field of security and defense with this state” had been revoked.
Last week, the Nigerien military arrested the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who had been in office since 2021. The head of the Presidential Guard, General Abdourahamane Tiani, declared himself the new ruler. The coup was sharply condemned internationally.
