The capital of Nigeria, Abuja, is already crowded with leaders from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Authority of Heads of State and Government, who will meet urgently to discuss the coup in the Republic of Niger.
The meeting, which begins in a few minutes at the Presidential Villa, is anticipated to be presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.
President Umaro Mokhtar Sissoco of Guinea-Bissau and President Mahamat Kaka of Tchad are among the African leaders who have arrived at the venue. The other two are the presidents of Côte d’Ivoire, Alassane Ouattara and Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé Eyadéma.
Others include Presidents Adama Barrow of The Gambia, Patrice Talon of the Benin Republic, Nana Akofo-Ado of Ghana, and Macky Sall of Senegal.
Recall that President Tinubu had warned that ECOWAS would not condone coups in the continent in response to the political upheaval in the Republic of Niger.
News that the military had successfully taken control of Niger soon spread.