Breaking: Niger Republic is suspended by the African Union, and its military leaders are urged to “return to barracks.”

Following a military coup on July 26, the African Union (AU) announced in a statement on Tuesday that it has suspended Niger Republic from all of its operations.

The AU reaffirmed its calls for the coup leaders to free elected President Mohamed Bazoum and go back to their barracks.

The West African bloc ECOWAS has decided to activate a standby force in preparation for a potential military intervention. The AU Peace and Security Council has taken note of this decision and urged the AU Commission to determine the consequences of this decision for the economy, society, and security.

In the event that diplomatic efforts to restore democracy in Niger are unsuccessful, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has stated that it is prepared to send troops there.

The AU urged all of its member nations and the international community to abstain from any action that may legitimise the coup in Niger and vehemently opposed any involvement from anyone or any place outside of Africa.

General Abdourahamane Tchiani, the head of the Niger’s military government, had presented a three-year transition plan, but ECOWAS had rejected it.

Abdourahamane Tchiani reportedly told SaharaReporters on Sunday that his government intended to hand back control to civilian rulers within the following three years.

In a speech broadcast on television on Saturday night, General Tchiani stated that neither the junta nor the Nigerans “desire conflict and are open to discussion.”

However, General Tchiani’s plan was deemed unacceptable by Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, in an interview with the BBC.

It was also claimed that hundreds of Nigerians demonstrated in support of the military government over the weekend.

Their demonstration took place at the same time as ECOWAS insisted on invading the nation to remove a few leaders if negotiations failed to restore deposed President Mohamed Bazoum to power.

The meeting took place on the same day a government official in Niger claimed that the talks between the ECOWAS delegation, led by former head of state General Abdulsalami Abubakar, retd, and the junta had not advanced far.

The commander added that there are deep divisions within the presidential guard, which ousted President Bazoum, and that the majority of the troops in the presidential complex will leave if ECOWAS attacks the Niger Republic.

This was occurring even as Pope Francis on Sunday advocated for a diplomatic solution to the political crisis.

Protesters sung anti-colonialist shouts against France and, in particular, ECOWAS, which is contemplating a military intervention to reinstate elected President Mohamed Bazoum if ongoing discussions with the coup perpetrators fail.

Protests have been officially forbade by the new military rulers of the Sahel state, but those in favour of the coup are allowed to carry them out.

In response to the trade and financial restrictions imposed by ECOWAS, the protesters brandished signs that said “stop the military involvement” and “no to sanctions.”

According to AFP, musical performances at the pro-coup demonstration over the weekend praised the new military government.

The most recent of several pro-coup demonstrations took place the day after the new military authority in Niamey issued a warning that an attack on Niger would not be a “walk in the park.”

In a last-ditch effort to end the deadlock with the country’s coup leaders peacefully, a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has landed in Niger.

The majority of ECOWAS members, with the exception of Cape Verde and nations ruled by militaries, had stated that they were prepared to take part in a military intervention in Niger, according to the study.