ECOWAS Leaders to Discuss Next Steps as Niger's Military Junta Defies Deadline to Reinstate Ousted President

The West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, has announced that its leaders will meet on Thursday to discuss their next steps following Niger's military junta's defiance of their deadline to reinstate the country's ousted president. The military junta, which seized power in a coup, closed Niger's airspace and accused foreign powers of planning an attack.

The junta claimed that two central African countries were preparing for an invasion without naming them. They also urged Niger's population to defend the nation. ECOWAS has warned of using military force if President Mohamed Bazoum is not restored to power. The United States has stated that it is still possible to resolve the coup through diplomacy.

Regional tensions have escalated since the coup, with Mali and Burkina Faso sending delegations to show support, while Guinea and Algeria have come out against the use of force. The future of the fight against extremism in Africa's Sahel region and the presence of international military personnel in Niger remain uncertain.