Niger’s coup leaders on Thursday said they were scrapping military pacts made between Niamey and France. They also announced they were ending the mandates of ambassadors to four countries as they face international pressure to restore the democratically elected leader they ousted last week. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments. All times are Paris time (GMT+2).
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01:45am: Niger junta to respond ‘immediately’ to any ‘aggression’ by West Africa bloc
Niger’s newly installed junta said it would respond immediately to any “aggression or attempted aggression” against it by West African countries, three days before the expiry of an ultimatum to restore order given by regional bloc ECOWAS.
“Any aggression or attempted aggression against the State of Niger will see an immediate and unannounced response from the Niger Defence and Security Forces on one of (the bloc’s) members, with the exception of suspended friendly countries,” declared one of the putschists in a statement, alluding to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Mali.
01:30am: Niger junta ends mandates of US, France, Nigeria and Togo ambassadors
Niger’s coup leaders on Thursday evening announced they were ending the mandates of ambassadors to four countries, as they face international pressure to restore the democratically elected leader they ousted last week.
“The functions of the extraordinary and plenipotentiary ambassadors of the Republic of Niger” to France, Nigeria, Togo and the United States “are terminated”, one of the putschists said in a statement read on national television.
01:25am: Niger’s ousted president calls for restoration of his government
Niger President Mohamed Bazoum, who was ousted in a coup last week, said in an opinion piece published Thursday in the Washington Post that he is a hostage and he called on the US and the entire international…
