Benin had "authorized the deployment of soldiers, mercenaries, and war materials" against the background of the possible ECOWAS intervention, forcing the Nigerien military leaders "to renounce the military cooperation agreement [with Benin]," media quoted Niger's coup leaders as saying in a statement read on a national broadcaster.
A coup took place in Niger on July 26. Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum was ousted and detained by his own guard, led by Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani. Following the coup, ECOWAS suspended all cooperation with Niger and threatened a military intervention if the rebels did not reinstate Bazoum.
Niger, which is a former French colony, has rich reserves of uranium, on which France depends. Niger reportedly accounts for 15%-17% of the uranium used to produce electricity in France. After the coup, the rebels halted gold and uranium exports to France, blocked French media and denounced several military pacts with Paris.