The Italian government has appealed to the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, to prolong its deadline for the re-establishment of Niger’s deposed president.
The Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani had made the appeal in an interview that was published on Monday, August 7.
Tajani had said:
“The only solution is a diplomatic path. I expect that the ultimatum of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which terminated last night at midnight, will be furthered today.”
The Republic of Niger had shut down its airspace on Sunday until further notice over the alleged threat of military intervention from the West African regional bloc.
The threat was made after coup leaders declined a deadline to restore the country’s deposed president Mohammed Bazoum who is still being detained.
Previously, thousands of junta supporters crowded a stadium in Niger’s capital city, Niamey, to celebrate the decision to not bow into external pressure to surrender by Sunday after the July 26 power grab.
