Leaders from West Africa will hold a summit on Thursday to discuss whether to restore democracy in Niger through military force or diplomacy.
It has been a fortnight since the President of Niger was taken into custody by his own guards, who later usurped authority.
This was the most recent in a series of military takeovers that have spread across the continent.
The regional Ecowas bloc’s leaders are congregating in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.
There isn’t anything simple they can do.
They want to reestablish democracy in the vast, impoverished country of Niger, which is already struggling with insurgent Islamists.
However, up until now, the military, who seized power in Niger has been able to withstand diplomatic and financial pressure.
The regional bloc headed by Nigeria has also threatened to use force. That might have been a fairly simple choice a few years ago.
However, military coups supported by Russian mercenaries recently succeeded in other neighboring countries, most notably Mali. And they are now supporting the generals in Niger.
For a sizable and unstable portion of Africa, there is a lot at stake right now.
Source-BBC
