Five countries absent as ECOWAS military chiefs meet in Abuja over Niger coup

Military Chiefs from some West African countries are in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital for a high-powered delegation meeting over the coup in the Republic of Niger, Daily Trust reports.

Present at the meeting were the military chiefs of Togo, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Guinea, Gambia, Cote’Divoire, Cabo Verde & the Republic of Benin.

Defence Chiefs from Mali, Niger, Guinea Bissau, Burkina Faso & Guinea were conspicuously absent from the meeting.

ALSO READ: Expert outlines three driving factors responsible for coup in Niger

The meeting which followed the threat of military action in Niger by the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, is being chaired by the chairman of ECOWAS military chief, Gen. Christopher Musa.

It would be recalled that ECOWAS had on Sunday, given Niger coupists one-week ultimatum to restore democratic order in the country or risk military action.

Nigerien President Mohammed Bazoum was detained in his palace last Wednesday by the nation’s Presidential Guard.