Niger
Niger has been suspended from the African Union (AU) due to its military coup. In a statement on the suspension, the AU reiterates a call to the coup plotters that Niger’s overthrown president, Mohamed Bazoum, must be released and the military must give up power. Niger’s president and government were deposed in a military coup on July 26. The AU Peace and Security Council on Tuesday highlighted the ECOWAS decision to establish a force on standby to enter Niger. ECOWAS, an association of West African countries, has declared its readiness to send soldiers to Niger if the crisis is not resolved diplomatically. The AU consists of 55 African states. /ritzau/