We Will Defend Our Homeland – Niger Coup Plotters Warn ECOWAS Against Use Of Military Force

The military who executed a coup in Niger Republic has issued a stern warning to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) against sending troops to the country to force them to relinquish power to President Mohamed Bazoum. 

 The Niger Republic military warned that should ECOWAS use military intervention, they are also fully ready to defend their country. 

 Recall that ECOWAS issued a 7-days-ultimatum to the coup plotters to reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum as the democratically elected President of Niger Republic or face stiffer sanctions. 

 The directive was part of the communique read by the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray after the Extraordinary Session of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the ECOWAS, which held on Sunday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria.

 It also tasked all Chiefs of Defense Staff of the member-states to proceed for an emergency meeting to strategize on effective ways to implement a possible military operation to restore constitutional order to the country. 

 Reacting to the plan to use force by ECOWAS, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, also known as Omar Tchiani, and the military leaders in Niger warned against any military intervention in a statement read on Niger national television.

 “The objective of the ECOWAS meeting is to approve a plan of aggression against Niger through an imminent military intervention in Niamey in collaboration with other African countries that are non-members of ECOWAS, and certain Western countries. 

 “We want to once more remind ECOWAS or any other adventurer of our firm determination to defend our homeland,” Aljazeera quoted the military spokesperson, Colonel Amadou Abdramane, to have said.