Reuters. Residents in Niger's capital on Tuesday (August 8) welcomed the arrival of military delegates from Mali and Burkina Faso the previous day, in the hopes that troops from the region's other junta-led states could help protect the leaders of Niger's recent coup from a potential show of force from other West African nations.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) had told leaders of the July 26 coup to stand down by Sunday (August 6) or face a possible military intervention, but the junta instead closed Niger's airspace and pledged to defend the country.
ECOWAS defence chiefs agreed on Friday (August 4) on a possible military action plan if the detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, was not released and reinstated, although they said operational decisions would be decided by heads of states.
But the bloc's unity has been broken by a promise from the ruling juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso, both member states, to come to Niger's defense if needed.
