ECOWAS give Niger’s military one week to restore Bazoum’s presidency.

The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Nigerien military on Sunday to restore constitutional order and return ousted President Muhammed Bazoum.

This came after an unusual meeting of ECOWAS leaders at the State House in Abuja to examine the situation in Niger Republic.

While the group recognized Bazoum as the legal President of the landlocked state, it also enforced land and border closures, as well as a suspension of all commercial flights between Niger and ECOWAS member states.

Omar Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, announced the decision, saying that the Chiefs of Defense Staff from the member countries will convene for an emergency meeting to strategize on effective ways to undertake a possible military operation to restore Bazoum to office.

He said the ECOWAS will “Take all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

“Such measures may include the use of force.

“To this effect, the Chiefs of Defense Staff of ECOWAS are to meet immediately.”

Announcing economic sanctions, Touray said ECOWAS has approved the “Suspension of all commercial and financial transactions between ECOWAS Member States and Niger. Freeze all service transactions including energy transactions.

“Freeze assets of the Republic of Niger in Aqua Central Bank. Freeze of assets of the Niger State and the state enterprises and parastatals in commercial banks.

“Suspension of measure from all financial assistance and transactions with all financial institutions, particularly EBID.”

Members of Niger’s Presidential Guard, who carried out the coup, announced General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the country’s new leader on Friday.

Tchiani, who has led the Presidential Guard since 2011, said the coup on Wednesday was the military’s response to “the degradation of the security situation” caused by terrorist carnage.

The military also warned of the “consequences that will flow from any foreign military intervention,” stating that “certain dignitaries…are considering confrontation,” which “will end in nothing but the massacre of the Nigerien population and chaos.”