7:31am: Italy calls on ECOWAS to extend Niger ultimatum
ECOWAS should prolong its deadline for the reinstatement of Niger's ousted president, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview published on Monday.

"The only way is the diplomatic one. I hope that the ultimatum of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which expired last night at midnight, will be extended today," Tajani told La Stampa newspaper

12:57pm: Germany urges diplomatic solution in Niger

Germany's foreign ministry called for a diplomatic solution to the junta takeover in Niger after the ECOWAS deadline for restoring the elected government to power expired on Sunday.

"We support ECOWAS in its mediation efforts, which are still ongoing," a ministry spokesman told a press briefing on Monday.

The expiry of the bloc's deadline did not mean there would automatically be military action, he added.

"We hope that these (mediation) efforts will ultimately lead to success and that constitutional order will be restored in Niger."

https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20230807-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-niger-junta-closes-airspace-as-ecowas-deadline-expires