Niger has not yet been declared at war, the head of ECOWAS says.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has neither declared war on the people of the Niger Republic nor had any plans to attack it, according to President Omar Touray.

In a presentation to media on Friday in Abuja, Touray announced this and emphasized that while the use of military force is currently on hold, sanctions, including the use of lawful force, had been triggered.

He said that ECOWAS is optimistic that all diplomatic efforts will result in constructive action from the junta as they continue to prepare the force for deployment in the event that the need for it arises.

The president of ECOWAS declared that the community would not accept a coup d’état, and that “it is not too late” for the military junta to change its mind.

In addition, he called for the junta commanded by General Abdourahamane Tchiani to return as quickly as possible to civilian administration, calling the three-year transition intolerable.