With pressure on Niger mounting, armed intervention unlikely: expert

Pressure is mounting on the Niger coup leaders.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking on Thursday, said he holds the junta responsible for the welfare of ousted President Mohamed Bazoum, whom the military is holding prisoner.

And ECOWAS, the West African regional power bloc, said it is activating its standby force in case negotiations fail and armed intervention is necessary.

Even as tensions rise in a very volatile region, an expert in African conflict says military action…