Ivorian President Urges Niger’s Junta to Fight Terrorism over ‘Kidnapping’ Bazoum

An ECOWAS extraordinary summit convened in Abuja, Nigeria to address the crisis in Niger concluded on Thursday with a resolute decision, ordering the activation of the regional bloc's standby force for potential intervention against Niger's junta leadership. Speaking to media, including VOA French to Africa service, in Abuja following the summit, Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara said that Niger's military leaders “should go to fight the terrorists and not try to kidnap a democratically elected president.”