"Niger Coup: A Wake-Up Call for Democracy and Western Intervention"

The recent coup in Niger is seen as a litmus test for democracy in West Africa, with Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, who chairs regional bloc Ecowas, responding swiftly by convening a summit of West African leaders and giving an ultimatum to Niger's junta to hand back power to the elected president within a week or face "all measures necessary to restore constitutional order." The coup has implications for Nigeria, as the two countries share a border and have strong cultural and trade ties. Additionally, both countries face security threats from militant Islamist groups. The coup also raises concerns about the safety of the ousted president and the potential for military intervention, which could escalate into a full-scale conflict and worsen the humanitarian crisis in the region.