The one-week ultimatum issued to the military junta that seized power in Niger Republic by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expired.

Last Sunday, the regional union headed by Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s president, said the junta had a week to restore constitutional order by reinstating Mohamed Bazoum, the country’s democratically elected president, or face the music.

Till the period expired, the ultimatum was not seen to have any effect, as the General Abdourahmane Tchiani-led junta very much held on to power in the West African country.

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ECOWAS has since taken a hard stance on the coup plotters by imposing a few sanctions on Niger Republic. Some of the sanctions have seen Nigeria, the country responsible for 70 percent of electricity in the country, cut supplies, and this has led to a widespread blackout in the country.

ECOWAS has also imposed trade and financial sanctions on the military-led country.

In a retaliatory fashion, the junta-led Nigerien government announced that it was cutting diplomatic ties with Nigeria, Togo, the US and France.

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It also said it was cancelling the military agreements it had with France, which had allowed the former colonial power to station 1,500 soldiers in the country.

On August 5, Nigeria’s Senate rejected Tinubu’s request to deploy Nigerian troops to Niger Republic as part of an ECOWAS force to reinstate Bazoum.

Now that the ultimatum has expired and the junta is still very much in control of affairs, no one knows what will happen next.