The African Union has suspended Niger from the body as a result of last month’s coup.
This followed sanctions imposed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Both organisations were acting in terms of structures prohibiting unconstitutional changes of government.
ECOWAS has also not ruled out the possibility of using military force to oust the military government, after rejecting the latter’s offer to hold elections within three years.
The AU has called on the world not to act so as to legitimise the military government in Niger. The body has rejected military intervention from outside the continent (claims had been made that France was willing to mount such an operation), but has not come out unequivocally against a regional military move.
The AU said in a statement: ‘We are studying the ECOWAS decision to prepare forces for deployment in Niger, and the African Commission will evaluate its repercussions. We strongly reject any external interference by any party or country in the affairs of the continent, including private military companies.’