The announcement of a "D-Day" for a military invasion to overthrow the coup in Niger by neighboring states from the regional ECOWAS alliance sparked massive protests in the Nigerien capital Niamey. Protesters shouted slogans against former colonial power France, which backs ECOWAS, and held signs reading "No to military invasion."
ECOWAS has its back to the wall as seven coups have shaken the political status quo in the region over the last three years. Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, which occupy about 50 percent of the original ECOWAS territory and are all led by similar coup governments and have entered into a military alliance.
ECOWAS announced military units were "ready to go anytime the order is given" and that "D-Day is also decided." Niger's coup leaders have threatened to respond militarily to the invasion and have said they are monitoring troop movements at the border that are "in collaboration with a foreign army" but gave no details.
Western powers, most notably France and the US, announced support for ECOWAS plans, threatening an inter-African war. The deposed government in Niger, a country rich in natural resources but also desperately poor, had good relations with Western governments.
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