The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has responded to the military coup in Niger Republic, as it enforced a no-flight zone over the country.
ECOWAS’s decision was announced on Sunday at an urgent meeting following the increasing tension stirred by the military actors who are attempting to take over in Niger.
This move is seen as a strong reaction to the recent ascendancy of the junta, which has stirred significant unrest in the country and poses a threat to the stability within the region.
Its leadership believes that the imposition of a no-flight zone will help curb the junta’s influence and hinder any potential allies from providing aerial support, even as leaders of the military coup fear that the regional body could stage an imminent military intervention in the capital of the Sahel country.
In addition to the no-flight zone, ECOWAS has agreed immediate financial sanctions over the coup, and has given the junta a week to cede power, while noting that a use of force has not been ruled out.
