West African bloc prepared for military intervention after Niger coup

Ecowas says it is ready to restore democracy and describes president Mohamed Bazoum as a hostage'

A west African regional political grouping has reiterated it is prepared to intervene militarily in Niger following last month's coup, describing the country's detained president, Mohamed Bazoum, as a hostage".

Ecowas's commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, made the comments as military chiefs of staff from the bloc met in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, on Thursday and accused Niger's military junta of playing cat and mouse" with the grouping by refusing to meet its envoys.