The July coup that ousted a democratically elected leader in Niger is the seventh in West Africa since 2020. This time it has aroused the anger of the African Union and the regional economic bloc ECOWAS; the latter issued an ultimatum to the Niger junta that was ignored. Meantime, the coup leaders have reportedly asked for help from the Wagner mercenary group stationed in Mali if an intervention occurs. At this date the situation is a standoff, but one thing is clear: Any form of outside intervention will be a disaster for a population that needs humanitarian and development assistance.