Niger’s military junta has threatened to kill the country’s deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, if any neighboring countries try to use military force to restore him to power.
According to Daily Mail, A Western military official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the situation, said representatives of the junta made the threat during a meeting with the U.S. under secretary of state for political affair, Victoria Nuland, during her recent visit to Niger.
It also report that a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, because they were not authorized to speak to the media, confirmed the details of the threat as revealed by the Western military official.
Bazoum, who was deposed on July 26, says he is being held hostage at his residence.
Earlier on Thursday, Nine leaders from the 15-member West African bloc met in the Nigeria capital, Abuja, to discuss their next steps after the seven day ultimatum for the reinstatement of President Bazoum elapsed without compliance from the junta.
Speaking after the talks, ECOWAS commission president Omar Alieu Touray said he could only reaffirm the decisions by “the military authorities in the subregion to deploy a standby force of the community.”
Financing had been discussed and “appropriate measures have been taken,” he said.
He blamed the junta for any hardship caused by the sanctions imposed on Niger and said further actions by the bloc would be taken jointly, not by any single country.
“It is not one country against another country. The community has instruments to which all members have subscribed to,” he said.
