UN sounds famine alarm ‘ECOWAS force awaits the order to strike’
President Bola Tinubu has warned of imminent “serious consequences”
if the military of the Republic of Niger allows the deposed president Mohamed Bazoum’s health is deteriorating while he is under house arrest.
Bazoum, along with his family members, has been under house arrest since July 26 after presidential guards overthrew his government.
An official of the European Union (EU), Charles Michel, announced this on Friday after a telephone call from President Tinubu.
The French news agency reported that during a telephone conversation with the EU official, Tinubu, president of ECOWAS,
who opposes the coup in Niger, said: “President Bazoum’s detention conditions are deteriorating.”
Meanwhile, the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP) has warned that Niger’s ongoing crisis could significantly exacerbate food insecurity in the poor country.
The closure of the border between Niger and Benin has halted food imports through the port of Cotonou.
WFP in Niger is pushing for humanitarian exceptions to sanctions and border closures to avoid catastrophe.
The UN said that even before the coup, more than three million people were seriously affected by food
ECOWAS force awaits an order to strike
The ECOWAS force is ready to intervene in Niger “any time the order is given,” an official told Aljazeera on Friday.
“We are ready to go when the order is given.
the official said after West African army leaders held a second day of talks in preparation for a possible armed intervention in Niger.
Daily Trust reported that at a meeting in Accra, Ghana’s capital, defense chiefs on Thursday said they were ready to restore civilian rule in Niger.
However, ECOWAS could send a diplomatic mission to Niger on Saturday, the official said, although previous delegations have not met the country’s new strongman.