Military junta in Niger Republic on Thursday announced the formation of a new government of 21 ministers.
The announcement on TV came two weeks after the junta ousted the democratically-elected President, Mohamed Bazoum.
According to the decree, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine has been appointed to lead the government, while generals from the new military governing council will head the defense and interior Ministries.
The new governing Council is coming on board at a time the West African leaders are set to meet on Thursday to mull military action against the junta, led by former Presidential Guard Commander Gen Abdourahmane Tiani.
Ecowas has already imposed sanctions on the junta following the coup, which also prompted the EU and France to slash aid to the impoverished nation.
The bloc is expected to favour diplomacy over military action on the ground, which it has said is a “last resort”.
It had threatened to send troops into Niger if President Bazoum was not reinstated by last Sunday.
