NIAMEY: West African regional states have postponed a key military meeting on Niger crisis a day after they announced the deployment of troops to restore democracy in the country.
President Mohamed Bazoum’s government was toppled on July 26 when men of his own guard put him under confinement at the presidency.
AFP reported on Friday that Chiefs of staff from West African ECOWAS bloc countries were scheduled to meet in Ghana’s capital Accra on Saturday but later, the meeting was canceled due to some technical reasons.
The sources said the meeting was originally set up to inform the ECOWAS leaders about activating and deploying the standby force.
ECOWAS has yet to provide details on the force or a timetable for military action in Niger.
Coup supporters rally near French military base in Niger
On Friday, the meeting was canceled as thousands of coup supporters held a protest demonstration near a French military base in Niger.
France has about 1,500 personnel in Niger as part of a force combating an eight-year jihadist insurgency.
Niger’s coup leaders have already canceled defense agreements with France. Anti-French protest in front of the French embassy in Niamey on July 30 have forced Paris to evacuate its citizens.
The European Union and African Union (AU) on Friday voiced concerns about the captivity of Bazoum.
UN rights chief Volker Turk said Bazoum’s deteriorating health under custody is a great concern for the international rights organization.
The ECOWAS had given a week to the Niger coup leaders to restore the democratic government or face military intervention.
However, the efforts by the African bloc and other states to resolve the crisis in Niger have failed to make any progress so far.
ECOWAS has already imposed trade and financial sanctions on Niger after the military coup in the country.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has cautioned against the activities of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, adding that it can exploit the instability in Niger.
The neighboring country of Mali has formed a partnership with Moscow, raising fears over Russia’s growing influence in the area.
Niger has played a key role in Western strategies to fight and combat jihadist insurgencies with the support of France and the United States.
