The military officers who seized power in the West African state of Niger 10 days ago have until today to restore Mohamed Bazoum as president or face military action from the Economic Community of West African States -  ECOWAS. In an intensification of the standoff coup leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani has declared that he will not bow down to pressure and urged his countrymen to get ready to defend their nation. Last Sunday ECOWAS threatened the use of force against the junta if it did not release and reinstate the president within a week, an ultimatum immediately rejected by neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, all of which are run by mutinous soldiers who toppled their governments. On Thursday thousands of people took to the streets of Niger's capital, Niamey, in support of the military coup. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Christopher Isike, Professor of African politics and international relations at the University of Pretoria...