Tensions In West Africa Escalate Amid Niger Coup

A group of West African nations warned over the weekend that they could launch a military intervention in Niger, giving the junta which overthrew and detained President Mohamed Bazoum a seven-day ultimatum to restore the democratically elected government. As flagged before, the coup may have broader geopolitical and energy market ramifications.

• Leaders of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) gathered in Nigeria to discuss the coup and threatened to deploy force, while Chad reportedly offered to mediate between the bloc and the Niger putschists.
• Per Reuters, "ECOWAS and the (...) West African Economic and Monetary Union said that with immediate effect borders with Niger would be closed, commercial flights banned, financial transactions halted, national assets frozen and aid ended."
• The military-ruled nations of Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea warned that any attempts to reinstate President Bazoum would be perceived as a "declaration of war," declaring support for the Niger coup.
• Note that the Sahelian events should be put in a broader geopolitical context, with President Bazoum seen as a key ally of the West, while Mali and Burkina Faso rely on support from Russian Wagner Group mercenaries after forcing French troops out.
• France brushed away accusations that it was considering a military intervention in Niger, but President Macron said that Paris would take "immediate and uncompromising action" if French citizens or interests were attacked.