Italy has requested that the deadline for reinstating Niger’s deposed president be extended by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani reportedly delivered the recommendation in a Monday interview, as reported by NAN.
Diplomacy is the only option. In an interview with La Stampa, Tajani expressed his expectation that ECOWAS would extend its deadline, which had previously expired at midnight.
Due to the rumored threat of military intervention from the West African regional bloc, Niger shut down its airspace on Sunday and hasn’t reopened it yet.
Reports of the threat surfaced after the coup leaders ignored a deadline to release arrested former president Mohammed Bazoum.
Thousands of junta supporters had earlier gathered in a stadium in the capital city of Niamey to celebrate the junta’s refusal to bow to international pressure and resign by Sunday, July 30.
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