West African leaders to meet on Niger after junta defies deadline
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00:00 Despite the ongoing political turmoil, a relative sense of calm returned to the streets of Niamey
00:06 on Monday.
00:07 Yet tensions were still running high in Niger's capital, a day after the end of an ultimatum
00:14 by West African bloc ECOWAS.
00:16 "If the CDAO decides to send a military intervention, we will take our courage to
00:26 defend our country."
00:29 "We are ready to give our lives for our country.
00:33 We are calling on the people to restore order.
00:36 If the military remains loyal to the remission, we will support them until the end."
00:42 On Sunday, military leaders shut down the country's airspace, after warning of an imminent
00:48 threat of armed intervention by ECOWAS.
00:51 Yet the West African bloc, which is set to meet again on Thursday to discuss the situation
00:56 in Niger, still appeared to consider the use of force as a last resort.
01:01 In recent days, it's faced growing pressure to pursue a diplomatic solution to the crisis,
01:07 with the likes of Algeria, Germany and Italy calling for renewed dialogue with the junta.
01:13 Last week, ECOWAS sent a delegation to Niamey to negotiate with the Putschists, but failed
01:19 to make any headway towards the liberation of President Mohamed Bazoum.
01:24 Yet on Monday, Niger's Prime Minister, who's been in exile since the coup, claimed military
01:30 leaders were now willing to sit down at the negotiating table.