West African bloc says Niger military intervention is 'last resort'

West African leaders say military intervention is a "last resort" to restore the ousted civilian government in Niger.

"The military solution is the last option, but we are still preparing for that scenario. We need to prove that we are not paper tigers," Abdel-Fatau Musah, an official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), said in a statement on August 2.

Military leaders of the ECOWAS bloc are meeting in the Nigerian capital Abuja after a coup in Niger overthrew the civilian-led government of President Mohamed Bazoum. Mr Musah added that an ECOWAS delegation was in Niger to negotiate with the military government.

Colonel Amadou Abdramane, spokesman for the Niger military government, spoke on television on July 31. Photo: AFP — Colonel Amadou Abdramane, spokesman for the Niger military government, spoke on television on July 31. Photo: *AFP*

ECOWAS agreed last weekend to impose trade and financial sanctions on Niger, and gave the military government in Niger a week to hand over power.

Nigeria has cut off power supply to neighboring Niger following ECOWAS sanctions since August 1, a source from the country's electricity company said on August 2. Niger depends on Nigeria for 70% of its electricity.

Meanwhile, General Salifou Mody of Niger's military government arrived in neighboring Mali, a country that supported the coup, on August 2. The content of the meeting between General Mody and Mali's leaders is unclear.

ECOWAS is made up of 15 African countries: Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria and Togo. However, Mali and Burkina Faso, which are also currently under military rule, were suspended from ECOWAS following coups. The two countries have said they would declare war if Niger was involved in military intervention.