Leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are gathering in Abuja, Nigeria, on Thursday for an emergency summit on the coup in Niger.
The summit comes two weeks after the country's military chiefs defied an ultimatum from ECOWAS to restore the elected president, Mohamed Bazoum.
In a statement on Tuesday,
ECOWAS said it was seeking a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but has not ruled out using force.
"Important decisions are expected from the gathering," the statement said.
Struggling to stem a cascade of coups among its members since 2020, ECOWAS gave the troops who seized power on July 26 until last Sunday to reinstate Bazoum or face the potential use of force.
But the coup leaders remained defiant and the deadline passed without action.
In their latest show of resistance against international pressure, the military leaders named a new government on Thursday.
The summit in Abuja is expected to discuss a range of options for resolving the crisis in Niger, including the use of force.
It is also expected to send a strong message to other coup leaders in the region that ECOWAS will not tolerate unconstitutional changes of government.
The summit will be attended by the presidents of all
15 ECOWAS member states.
Those who have already arrived in Abuja include:
- President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone
- President Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea Bissau
- President Everiste Ndayishimiye of Burundi
- President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'Ivoire
- President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani of Mauritania
- President Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana
- President Macky Sall of Senegal
- President Patrice Talon of Benin
The presidents of Togo and The Gambia are still expected to arrive in Abuja.
The summit is scheduled to begin on Thursday morning and is expected to last for several hours.
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