Thousands of pro-Russian demonstrators march through the Niger capital in support of the coup

Demonstrators hold a Russian flag and banners during a rally in support of coup soldiers in the capital Niamey Photo: REUTERS Protesters welcome Nigerian troops gathered in front of the French embassy in Niamey Photo: AFP

In the third coup that toppled the leader of the African Sahel for so many years, Mohamed Bazum, the elected president of Niger, has been in military custody since Wednesday.

General Abdurahaman Chiani, head of the powerful presidential guard, declared himself the leader .

< p>Sunday, at an emergency meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) said it was suspending relations with Niger and authorizing the use of force if the president was not reinstated within a week.

“In case of failure to comply with the requirements of the authorities, within one week, take all necessary measures to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. Such measures may include the use of force. To this end, the ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense Staff must meet immediately,” Omar Alleu Tourey, President of the ECOWAS Commission, said after the meeting.

Last year, ECOWAS leaders agreed to establish a regional security service. forces to intervene against jihadists and prevent military coups, but details about the forces and their funding are still unclear.

Any intervention would mark the first time Ecowas has resorted to military action in its history.

In a statement read on national television Saturday night, Niger junta member Amadou Abdraman said the aim of the summit was to “endorse the plan aggression against Niger in the form of imminent military intervention in Niamey.”

The intervention will be carried out “in cooperation with African countries that are not members of the regional organization and some Western countries,” he added. /> Demonstrators rallied in support of a military coup in Niamey, Niger's capital Photo: REUTERS

President Mohamed Bazum was democratically elected two years ago in the first peaceful transfer of power in Niger since independence from France in 1960.

But some analysts and Nigerians say it was a pretext to seize power that has more to do with internal power struggles than defense of the country.

“Everyone is asking the question: why this coup? Because no one expected it. We could not expect a coup in Niger because there is no social, political or security situation that would justify a military takeover,” Professor Amad Hassan Boubakar, who teaches at the University of Niamey, told the Associated Press news agency. /p>

He said that Mr. Bazum wants to replace General Ciani, who is now in charge of the country.

Nigerians hold a Russian flag and placards reading «France kills Niger» and «For a new Niger, long live CNSP.» Photo: Sam Mednick/AP

While the security situation in Niger is dire, it is not as bad as neighboring Burkina Faso or Mali, which are also fighting Islamic insurgents linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.

On Saturday, Josep Borrell, head of the European Union's diplomatic mission, said that the EU does not recognize the putschists and announced an indefinite suspension of security cooperation with Niger with immediate effect, as well as budgetary assistance.

The United States, which has about 1,000 troops in Niger, offered Mr. Bazum Washington unwavering support and warned those who held him back that they «threaten years of successful cooperation and hundreds of millions of dollars of aid.»

Niger, Landlocked, it often ranks last in the United Nations Human Development Index, despite huge uranium deposits.

Since independence in 1960, it has had a turbulent political history: four coups, as well as many other attempts, including the previous two against Mr. Bazum. .