Iran Press/ Africa: Abdourahmane Tchiani, head of the Nigerien presidential guard has been named head of a transitional government in the West African state, a day after his unit overthrew the democratically elected leadership of Mohammed Bazoum.
Reading the communique, Omar Touray, president of the ECOWAS commission, said the authority affirmed its recognition of Bazoum as the legitimate president of Niger and only his official acts or that of his duly mandated officials will be recognized.
ECOWAS said if the demand is not met within one week, all measures necessary to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger, including the use of force, will be taken.
In his speech, the Chairman of the ECOWAS, Bola Ahmad Tinubu vowed to take action against the military rulers of the Republic of Niger that overthrew the democratic government of Muhammed Bazoum on Wednesday, an action that resulted in condemnations from the international community.
In an emergency meeting held on Sunday in Abuja Nigeria, the head of ECOWAS and President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmad Tinubu said: "The danger to us right now is the fact that one of us, His Excellency, Mohammed Bazoum is in hostage by so called army. The presidential guards. What a calamity!"
This is an assault on every one of us and we must take a very strong action. We want to protect the life of President Bazoum, Ahmad Tinubu emphasized.
President Tinubu further said he preferred to abide by all resolutions necessary to respond to this "assault" and to make sure that President Bazoum is safe and democracy is restored in the Niger Republic.
President Tinubu concluded the message with a strong warning, saying: "No more time for us to sign a warning signal. It is a time for action."
Earlier, Niger’s military leaders warned against any armed intervention in the country when the West African heads of state were preparing for Sunday's emergency meeting in the capital of Nigeria to decide on further actions to pressure the army to restore constitutional order.
It is expected that the Heads of the 15 members of ECOWAS and EUMOA would suspend Niger and impose different sanctions including economic.
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