Niamey: On Friday, West African defence chiefs were scheduled to conclude talks about a potential intervention in Niger as mediators from the regional bloc pressured the coup leaders in Niamey to reestablish constitutional order before a deadline was about to expire.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which has taken its toughest stance yet on President Mohamed Bazoum's overthrow last week — the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020 — is at odds with the military junta in Niger.

A number of military cooperation agreements between France and the junta were revoked late on Thursday, dealing a blow to hopes of returning to the pre-existing status quo. The French government didn't respond right away.

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The action could significantly alter a joint campaign against an Islamist insurgency. It is reminiscent of similar actions taken by juntas in the aftermath of coups in the neighbouring countries of Burkina Faso and Mali.

In order to combat the insurgency by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State that has destabilised the Sahel region of West Africa, France has between 1,000 and 1,500 troops in Niger.

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Although the bloc has also imposed broad sanctions and warned it could authorise the use of force if Bazoum is not reinstated by Sunday, an ECOWAS delegation is in the capital of Niamey, Nigerien, in an effort to secure "a conclusive and amicable resolution" to the crisis.

Abdourahamane Tiani, the self-declared leader of Niger, rejected the sanctions and vowed that the junta would not yield to pressure.

The multi-day discussion by the region's defence chiefs about a potential military response—which they have said would be a last resort—will officially come to an end later on Friday in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. On Thursday, the junta declared that, with the exception of those member states that are friendly to Niger, any aggression or attempted aggression by ECOWAS would be met with an immediate riposte.

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Although data on attacks indicates that security there has actually been improving, Tiani has received the support of the juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso and used persistent insecurity as his primary justification for seizing power.