Niger’s neighbors running out of options as defense chiefs meet to discuss potential military force

By SAM MEDNICK
Associated Press

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — West African defense chiefs are meeting to discuss the crisis in Niger after coup leaders there ignored their deadline to step down, leaving the region’s countries with few options in their effort to restore democratic rule. Niger’s democratically elected president, Mohamed Bazoum, was overthrown in July and remains under house arrest with his wife and son in the capital, Niamey. Defense chiefs from the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, were meeting Thursday in Ghana to discuss next steps in their stated goal of restoring Bazoum. This is the first meeting since ECOWAS ordered the deployment of a “standby force” last week to restore constitutional rule in the country.