Case study The Niger Coup and ECOWAS

Following the military coup in Niger The African Union (AU) appears to have left room open for military intervention by a west African political bloc to restore democracy in Niger, as Algerian state radio said it had refused a French request to fly over its airspace for a military operation.

France’s joint defence staff, however, denied the country had made any request to Algeria to use its airspace for a military operation in Niger.

While the AU issued a statement “strongly” opposing any military action from countries outside the continent, it offered a more ambiguous view on any intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), which has said it is prepared to send troops into Niger if diplomatic efforts to restore democracy fail.