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Coup attempt in Niger

ECOWAS closes borders for participants in state coup in Niger

The organization has also decided to freeze the assets belonging to Niger’s military involved in the state coup

DUBAI, July 30. /TASS/. Member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have decided to close borders for the participants in the state coup in Niger, the Al-Jazeera television channel said on Sunday, citing ECOWAS summit’s statement.

According to Al-Jazeera, ECOWAS has also decided to freeze the assets belonging to Niger’s military involved in the state coup.

The organization called for releasing Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum and reinstating the constitutional order in that country. The ECOWAS nations condemned the attempted state coup and the illegal detention of Niger’s president and his family.

On the evening of July 26, rebels in Niger announced the dismissal of President Mohamed Bazoum, the closure of national borders, the introduction of a curfew, the suspension of the constitution, and the prohibition of political parties.

During the coup, Tchiani reportedly headed the presidential guard, whose officers seized former President Bazoum. The National Council includes a range of Nigerien top officers, including former Chief of Staff General Salif Modi who retired this April.

Set up in 1975, ECOWAS unites 15 states. However, it has suspended membership of three countries, namely Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali, where the military has seized power in recent years.

Niger’s neighbor Chad, which is not a member of the organization, was invited to its Sunday’s summit.

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Coup attempt in Niger

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