The Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS on July 30 threatened the military junta in Niger of a military invasion among other actions if the overthrown democratically elected President, Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstalled.
The decision taken at an emergency meeting convened by ECOWAS Chairperson who is also Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu was met by stiff criticism from the coup plotters and their counterparts from Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea.
Since the threat was issued, stakeholders have been meditating to ensure that the detained President is released and allowed to stir the affairs of the country.
Addressing members of the diplomatic corps in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Adamu Lamuwa, said military intervention will be the last option if every mediation fail.
The Permanent Secretary also spoke on the level of mediation as well as other sundry issues. ECOWAS has ordered nations bordering Niger to shut their air and land borders which did not go down well with the junta who promised to return military force with force.
