The spokesman for the junta, Amadou Abdramane, said in a statement broadcast on television that the security and defense cooperation agreements with France were cancelled, given that country’s attitude regarding the situation in Niger.

He also announced a decree declaring the end of the functions of the Nigerian ambassadors in France, the United States, Togo and Nigeria.

Abdramane also condemned the initiative to carry out a military intervention and the announcement of a package of sanctions imposed by organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which issued an ultimatum for the junta to leave power and reinstate President Mohamed Bazoum by Sunday.

The heads of State of ECOWAS are concluding a meeting in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja, on Friday, when resolutions on a possible military intervention in Niger must come out.

A delegation from ECOWAS traveled to Niger on Thursday in order to find a way out of the crisis, but left the country hours later without having met with the coup leader, one of its members reported on Friday.

Ousted President Bazoum requested in a column published in The Washington Post the help from the United States and the international community to restore constitutional order in Niger. jg/llp/jha/fvt