By Owei Lakemfa
The new military rulers in Niger
Republic, the country which marked independence day on Thursday, August 3, 2023
have a Sunday ultimatum from the Economic Community of West African States,
ECOWAS. It is that they give up power and restore elected President Mohammed
Bazoum to power or face serious measures, including possible invasion.
ECOWAS also imposed sanctions,
including border closures, a no-fly zone and the freezing of Nigerien assets.
The options seem to be that if former Presidential Guard head, General
Abdourahamane Tchiani and his boys do not give up power by that day, ECOWAS
would either add more sanctions and pressure, or invade Niger. The issues are,
however, not as straight forward; there are many complications, including
foreign interests.