Abuja, August 03 - (Mediaage NG News) – Republic of Niger’s Electricity Company, NIGELEC said major cities are facing rolling blackouts as a result of Nigeria cutting supplies to the West African nation.
This follows last week’s coup that saw the President, Mohammed Bazoum removed from office and taken hostage.
West African trade bloc, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has already sanctioned Niger, but has not made it clear if the sanctions include electricity supplies.
The ECOWAS Defence Chiefs are meeting in Nigeria to discuss a potential military intervention to roll back the coup. But, the ruling military juntas in Mali and Burkina Faso did not send theirs.
They warned ECOWAS against any intervention in Niger, insisting any military action against the new regime would also be tantamount to a “declaration of war” against them. ECOWAS has vowed to end the wave of coups that has plagued West Africa’s Sahel region in recent years.
Last Sunday, West African leaders gave Niger’s military junta a week to give up power or face possible military consequences.
Last Wednesday, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah said an armed intervention would be a “last resort”.
However, he insisted that the bloc is “prepared for the eventuality”.Mr Musah said there was “a need to demonstrate that we cannot only bark, but can bite”.