Update:
BREAKING: ECOWAS has ordered its standby force to restore constitutional order in Niger Republic! ECOWASā Omar Alieu Touray made the declaration earlier, at the ECOWAS extraordinary meeting in Abuja, today. The body also called on African Union, AU, partner countries and institutions to support the resolution taken by ECOWAS (to restore constitutional order in Niger by force.) ECOWAS said all efforts made to dialogue with Niger Republicās military junta have been ādefiantly rejected by the coup leaders,ā and that they condemn the continuous detention of the ousted former president of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum and his family members. Part of the ECOWAS resolution reads: āDirect the committee of the Chief of Defense Staff to activate the ECOWAS Stan-by force with all its elements immediately. āOrder the deployment of the ECOWAS stand-by force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.ā So, war is here and this is for real. God help the motherland.
Central African Republic president says he is "not against France" despite tensions The president of the Central African Republic said his country wanted good relations with France, in an interview that followed years of tension. "We are not against France," President Faustin Archange Touadera said. "I have just received France's new ambassador to the Central African Republic. That means that cooperation between France and the Central African Republic is ongoing, and we seek to improve it, to strengthen it in the interests of our two peoples." "The Central African Republic is a country that seeks to have good relationships with all countries that wish to work with us, including France and the Russian Federation," he added.
Libya and Chad warn against any involvement in armed action in Niger because of its repercussions on the stability of neighboring countries and the region
The US supported the decisions of ECOWAS on Niger The United States supports the actions of the Economic Community of West African Countries (ECOWAS) to restore order in Niger, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said. "ECOWAS is playing a leading role in clearly expressing the imperative of the need to restore constitutional order. We support their work and leadership," Blinken told reporters. Also The US has said that the rebels in Niger that they are responsible for the security of the deposed president of Niger Mohamed Bazoum "We have made it clear to the military leaders that we will hold them accountable if there are problems with his (Bazoum's) safety and well-being," Blinken told reporters. Blinken stressed that the safety of Bazoum and his family is of concern.
Nigerian, Ivorian, and Beninese troops are currently making preparations to deploy more than 5,000 combat soldiers to the predetermined "Staging Areas" of the ECOWAS-Standby Force, following the directives of Chief of Defense Staff, Biague Nan Tam.
Construction of China Gezhouaba Group's Kandadji dam in Niger suspended due to coup The China Gezhouaba Group Co Ltd has suspended the construction of its Kandadji hydroelectric dam in Niger after coup-related sanctions halted key funding, the company said. The $808 million project, located about 180 kilometres northwest of the capital Niamey, is set to have a capacity of 130 MW and also provide irrigation and boost food security in one of the world's poorest countries. The company said the military takeover on July 26 and ensuing economic sanctions caused it to declare force majeure on the project. Local contracts will be progressively terminated after due salaries are paid, the company added, promising to give redundant employees priority for re-hire once construction resumes.
France Supports All Conclusions Adopted by ECOWAS to "Restore Constitutional Order" in Niger