Heads of state from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are preparing for a summit on Thursday to discuss their standoff with the Niger junta, which defied an Aug. 6 deadline to reinstate ousted President Mohamed Bazoum. ECOWAS imposed trade and financial sanctions against Niger after rebel soldiers toppled the country’s elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, on July 26. The bloc also issued an ultimatum, which expired on Sunday, for reinstating Bazoum or else face the risk of use of force. For a deeper perspective on the largely unsuccessful West African diplomatic efforts, FRANCE 24’s Catherine Viette is joined by Sebastian Elischer, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida.
No int’l military force, ECOWAS included, ‘would be in a position to interfere immediately’ in Niger
