International pressure mounts on coup leaders in Niger

Supporters of Niger’s ruling junta gather at the start of a protest called to fight for the country’s freedom and push back against foreign interference in Niamey, Niger (Sam Mednick/AP)

International pressure has mounted against leaders of the coup in Niger as the American secretary of state said the US “stands very much” in support of West African leaders who have threatened to use force to restore the nation’s democracy.

As hundreds of anti-French protesters rallied in the Nigerien capital in support of the ruling junta, US secretary of state Antony Blinken offered general support for the regional bloc known as Ecowas, though he did not specifically refer to its threat of military action.