Nationwide protests

ECOWAS on Sunday gave the junta that toppled elected president Bazoum in a July 26 coup one week to reinstate him or face the potential use of force.

An ECOWAS delegation arrived in Niger’s capital Niamey on Thursday but did not stay overnight as scheduled. It did not meet with Bazoum or coup leader Abdourahamane Tiani, a delegation member said on Friday.

On Friday, there were sporadic rallies both for and against the coup. Around 100 people from several West African nations rallied in Niamey to protest against any potential military intervention.

But in the western town of Tahoua, several hundred people gathered to show support for Bazoum and demand his unconditional release, one local journalist reported.

Also on Friday, the junta announced it was scrapping military pacts between Niger and France, citing the former colonial ruler’s “careless attitude and its reaction to the situation”.