The African Union called on the Nigerien army to "return to its barracks and restore constitutional powers" within 15 days, after the military carried out a coup against the authorities that overthrew the elected president, Mohammed Bazoum.

The Peace and Security Council of the Union said in a statement: It demands the military to immediately and unconditionally return to their barracks and restore constitutional powers, within a maximum period of 15 days.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron is chairing today a meeting on the coup in Niger, where France is still deploying 1,500 soldiers who have so far been cooperating with the army of this country.

It is possible that the overthrow of the President of Niger, Mohammed Bazoum, will reconsider the status of the French deployment.

On Sunday, a special summit of the Economic Community of West African States will be held in the Nigerian capital, Abuja, to assess the situation in Niger, a member state of the group.

For its part, the United States affirmed its firm support for the elected President of Niger, Mohamed Bazoum, during a phone call with him, Anthony Blinken, US Secretary of State.

Yesterday, Friday, General Abd al-Rahman Chiani, commander of the Presidential Guard in Niger, announced his inauguration as ruler of the country, two days after the coup against the elected president, Bazoum, as he justified his move by "the deterioration of the security situation in his country."

The country, located in the Sahel region, has witnessed four coups since its independence from France in 1960, and several other attempts to seize power, one of which occurred during the current president's term as well.

Source: National Iraqi News Agency