JUST IN: ECOWAS fixes date for fresh meeting over Niger coup plotters

The Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu has convened another Extraordinary Summit of the Authority on the political situation in the Republic of Niger.

“The Summit will hold in Abuja, on Thursday, August 10, 2023,” a statement published on the website of the West African regional bloc said on Monday.

“The ECOWAS Leaders will be considering and discussing the political situation and recent developments in Niger during the Summit.”

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It could be recalled that Niger’s military rulers announced Sunday that they had closed the country’s airspace, warning that any attempt to violate it would meet with an “energetic and immediate response.”

“Faced with the threat of intervention, which is becoming clearer through the preparation of neighbouring countries, Niger’s airspace is closed from this day on Sunday… for all aircraft until further notice,” the country’s new rulers said in a statement.

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The announcement came as the deadline from the West African bloc ECOWAS for them to hand back power to the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum was due to expire.

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ECOWAS last Sunday issued Niger’s new military rulers with an ultimatum to stand down within the week or face possible military intervention. Bazoum was overthrown on July 26 when members of his own guard detained him at the presidency.