The African Union has demanded that the military in Niger must “return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority” within 15 days after seizing control in a coup in the country besieged by jihadists.
The AU’s Peace and Security Council “demands the military personnel to immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional authority, within a maximum period of fifteen (15) days”, it said in a communique following a meeting Friday on the Niger coup.
It “condemns in the strongest terms possible” the overthrow of the elected government and its president Mohamed Bazoum and expressed deep concern over the “alarming resurgence” of military coups in Africa.
After Bazoum was taken into custody on Wednesday, the coup plotters replaced him with General Abdourahamane Tchiani, who has been in charge of the Presidential Guard since 2011.
The international community denounced the coup as a power grab, even though they justified it as a response to the country’s deteriorating security.
