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The defense chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger pose for a group photo during their extraordinary meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, to discuss the situation in Niger. (AP Photo/ Chinedu Asadu)

West African leaders are meeting on Niger, but options are few as a military junta defies mediation

By Sam Mednick and Chinedu Asadu - Associated Press

Supporters of Niger's ruling junta hold a Russian flag in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Nigeriens are bracing for a possible military intervention as time's run out for its new junta leaders to reinstate the country's ousted president. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

Niger’s military junta digs in with Cabinet appointments and rejects talks

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

Mohamed Toumba, one of the soldiers who ousted Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, addresses supporters of Niger's ruling junta in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Nigeriens are bracing for a possible military intervention as time's run out for its new junta leaders to reinstate the country's ousted president. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

Niger’s neighbors and the U.N. seek to deescalate tensions with last-minute diplomacy

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, pictured, in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023. Days after after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger's democratically elected president, uncertainty is mounting about the country's future and some are calling out the junta's reasons for seizing control. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

Two rivals claim to be in charge in Niger. One is detained and has been publicly silent for days

By Cara Anna and Carley Petesch - Associated Press

Mohamed Toumba, one of the soldiers who ousted Nigerian President Mohamed Bazoum, addresses supporters of Niger's ruling junta in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023. Nigeriens are bracing for a possible military intervention as time's run out for its new junta leaders to reinstate the country's ousted president. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

West African leaders will meet Thursday after Niger’s junta defies key deadline and shuts airspace

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

Nigeriens, some holding Russian flags, participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023. Not everyone is hostile to last week's coup in Niger. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali have taken the unusual step of declaring that foreign military intervention in Niger would be a declaration of war against them, too. Both have had coups in recent years. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

Bloc backs off on military action as Niger’s coup leaders remain defiant

By David R. Sands - The Washington Times

Supporters or Niger's ruling junta, accompanied by some security forces, stand guard at a roundabout in Niamey, Niger, early Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, checking cars for weapons and keeping an eye out for foreign intervention. Nigeriens are bracing for a possible military intervention as time’s run out for its new junta leaders to reinstate the country’s ousted president. Sunday is the final day given by the West Africa regional bloc for mutinous soldiers to release President Mohamed Bazoum who said he’s been taken hostage. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

A deadline arrives for Niger’s junta to reinstate the president. Citizens cheer and fear what’s next

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

The defense chiefs from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries excluding Mali, Burkina Faso, Chad, Guinea and Niger pose for a group photo during their extraordinary meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, to discuss the situation in Niger. (AP Photo/ Chinedu Asadu)

Niger’s junta isn’t backing down, and a regional force prepares to intervene. Here’s what to expect

By Chinedu Asadu - Associated Press

Supporters of Niger's ruling junta hold a Russian flag at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. The march falls on the West African nation's independence day from its former colonial ruler, France, and as anti-French sentiment spikes, more than one week after mutinous soldiers ousted the country's democratically elected president. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

Niger’s junta rulers ask for help from Russian group Wagner as it faces military intervention threat

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

French soldiers disembark from a U.S. Air Force C130 cargo plane at Niamey, Niger base, on June 9, 2021. On Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023, night, the junta said on state television it was terminating the military agreements and protocols signed with its former colonial ruler, France. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

Mutinous soldiers in Niger sever French military ties while ‘hostage’ president pleads for U.S. help

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey, Niger, Aug. 3, 2023. As several European countries evacuate Niger, the Biden administration is showing itself unusually intent on staying. It sees Niger as the United States' last, best counterterrorism outpost — and until the coup, a promising democracy — in a region plagued by instability. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick, File)

In Niger, the U.S. seeks to hang on to its last, best counterterrorist outpost in West Africa

By Ellen Knickmeyer, Sam Mednick and Cara Anna - Associated Press

Supporters of Niger's ruling junta gather at the start of a protest called to fight for the country's freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023. The march falls on the West African nation's independence day from its former colonial ruler, France, and as anti-French sentiment spikes, more than one week after mutinous soldiers ousted the country's democratically elected president. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

Biden demands Niger leader Bazoum be freed as embassy personnel evacuated after coup

By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023. Not everyone is hostile to last week's coup in Niger. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali have taken the unusual step of declaring that foreign military intervention in Niger would be a declaration of war against them, too. Both have had coups in recent years. (AP Photo/Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou)

Hundreds rally in Niger, denouncing France, as the country’s new junta seeks to justify its coup

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

With the headquarters of the ruling party burning in the back, supporters of mutinous soldiers demonstrate in Niamey, Niger, Thursday, July 27 2023. Not everyone is hostile to last week's coup in Niger. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Mali have taken the unusual step of declaring that foreign military intervention in Niger would be a declaration of war against them, too. Both have had coups in recent years. (AP Photo/Fatahoulaye Hassane Midou)

Some of Niger’s neighbors defend the coup there, even hinting at war. It’s a warning for Africa

By Cara Anna - Associated Press

Boubacar Moussa, a former member of the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin group, linked to al-Qaida, poses for a photo in Niamey, Niger, Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. The 47-year-old says Niger's coup will embolden violence, increase recruitment across the country and threaten regional stability. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

The coup in Niger will only embolden extremists, says a former jihadi fighter

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

Nigeriens participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023. The French Foreign Ministry says Tuesday, Aug.1, 2023, that France is planning an imminent evacuation of people seeking to leave Niger after the coup last week in the former French colony. Poster reads: Down with France, long live Putin." (AP Photo/Sam Mednick, File)

Niger crisis deepens as France plans evacuation and coup leaders get support from neighboring juntas

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

ECOWAS Senegalese troops hold their position in Barra, across from the Gambian capital Banjul Jan. 22, 2017. West Africa's regional bloc known as ECOWAS has threatened the use of force in reinstating the president of Niger after he was deposed by his military but how the bloc would carry out the threat remains unclear, with a military deployment on the table. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay, File)

Pentagon suspends operations with Niger’s military after coup

By Mike Glenn - The Washington Times

Nigeriens holding a Russian flag participate in a march called by supporters of coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani in Niamey, Niger, Sunday, July 30, 2023. Days after after mutinous soldiers ousted Niger's democratically elected president, uncertainty is mounting about the country's future and some are calling out the junta's reasons for seizing control. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

Military coup sets back U.S. missions for democracy; adversaries score new strategic opportunity

By Ben Wolfgang - The Washington Times

Nigeria President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, second from left, poses , for a group photograph with other West Africa leaders after a meeting in Abuja Nigeria, Sunday, July 30, 2023. At an emergency meeting Sunday in Abuja, Nigeria, the West African bloc known as ECOWAS said that it was suspending relations with Niger, and authorized the use of force if President Mohamed Bazoum is not reinstated within a week. The African Union has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the democratically elected government. (AP Photo/Chinedu Asadu)

West African nations threaten to use force if Niger’s president isn’t reinstated within a week

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press

A woman prepares food in Niamey, Niger, Saturday, July 29, 2023. The African Union has issued a 15-day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the country's democratically elected government just as the coup leaders met with senior civil servants to discuss how they would run the country and as the U.S. and the European Union threatened sanctions against the regime. (AP Photo/Sam Mednick)

The French embassy in Niger is attacked as protesters waving Russian flags march through the capital

By Sam Mednick - Associated Press