On Wednesday 30 August, the defence ministers of the EU Member States expressed their deep concern regarding the military coup of 26 July in Niger and the risks of further destabilisation of the Sahel, at an informal exchange of views in Toledo on this putsch and its implications for the whole region (see EUROPE B13238A5). They felt that it was necessary to side with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), as “we have expressed [...] from the first moment”, explained...