Niger’s junta has threatened to kill ousted President Mohamed Bazoum if neighbouring countries attempt any military intervention to reinstate
him.
According to a report by The Associated Press on Thursday, two “Western officials” said the putschists issued the threat while speaking to a top U.S. diplomat.
This came shortly before the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said it had directed the deployment of a “standby force” to restore democracy in Niger after its deadline of Sunday to restore Bazoum’s government
expired.
The threat to the deposed president raises the stakes for ECOWAS and the junta, which has shown its willingness to escalate its actions since it seized power on July 26.
Niger was seen as the last country in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert that Western nations could partner with to counter jihadi violence linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group that has killed thousands and displaced millions of people.