the coup leaders to restore democra ? ., ., , the coup leaders to restore democra ? ., ., democracy? there are few options out on the table- democracy? there are few options out on the table. if democracy? there are few options out on the table. if the democracy? there are few options out on the table. if the military on the table. if the military intervention which ecowas had maintained would be a last option if the coup leaders remained defiant. there is the option of extending the deadline to allow diplomatic and political talks to see if the military would budge on their demands. also, there is the second option of a timeline where the military coup leaders could come up with a timeline to say they would transition to a democratic government within a certain period of time. but until they make those declarations, we can only wait. thank you very much. plenty of western nations will be keeping a keen eye on events, now that deadline in niger has passed. our reporter nicky sc
as relative democratic stability, especially as its neighbours mali and burkina faso had had military coups. while president mohamed bazoum is seen as a key partner of some european countries who have been trying to stop migrants from getting across the mediterranean sea. he has also cracked down on human trafficking. next, strategically. niger hosts both us and french military bases. and was seen as a key partner in the fight against islamist militants. indeed, the us state department said it was important as a linchpin for stability in the sahel. adding that it was a reliable counterterrorism partner in the fight against those insurgents linked to islamic state and also al-qaeda. as well as the insurgents, the wagner mercenaries have also been seen as having a malign influence in niger. you may have seen these pictures during recent protests by supporters of the coup,
through to the atlantic ocean. secondly, politically. until recently, niger had been seen to have relative democratic stability, especially as its neighbours mali and burkina faso had had military coups, whilst the president bazoum was seen as a key partner of some european countries who ve been trying to stop migrants getting across the mediterranean sea. he has also cracked down on human trafficking. next, strategically. niger hosts both us and french military bases, and was seen as a key partner in the fight against islamist militants. indeed, the us state department said it was important as a linchpin for stability, adding that it was a reliable counterterrorism partner in the fight against those insurgents linked to islamic state and also al-qaeda.
the other in henichesk, so this is a case, you d say it was normally normal military targets and they have the rights to conduct the strike. . ~ have the rights to conduct the strike. ., ~ , ., now to niger, where in the last few minutes a deadline for the military junta to step down has passed. the west african regional bloc of ecowas, gave the coup leaders a week to reinstate the ousted president, mohamed bazoum and threatened military intervention if its demands were not met. thousands of people have gathered in niger s capital to support the militaryjunta as that deadline expired. despite international condemnation of the soldiers actions, thousands of nigeriens continue to show support for the army hoping it can offer the country stability. some neighbouring countries including mali, burkina faso and guinea have voiced support for the coup leaders. and algeria, which borders
in the european union comes from niger, is the huge economic implication in all of this. pope francis is wrapping up the final day of his visit to portugal. earlier, he celebrated a huge open air mass at a lisbon riverside park known as the parque tejo specially built for the event. the service brought world youth day the largest event organised by the catholic church to a close. on saturday night one and a half million pilgrimsjoined the pope at a vigil. alison roberts is in lisbon and has been following the pope s visit. i think the sheer number of pilgrims from around the world, and the way that they have really taken over the city of lisbon,