2023-08-06 17:09:09
On the evening of Sunday August 6, the ultimatum of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ends, leaving doubts about an armed operation against the putschists of the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) in Niger. The organization had given them seven days to free the Nigerien president, Mohamed Bazoum, and return to democratic order.
On Friday, a meeting of the chiefs of staff of the organization was held in Abuja, Nigeria. ECOWAS had announced that the outlines of a “possible military intervention” against the military junta had been “defined”.
In Nigeria, the Senate and the opposition call for restraint
Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire and Benin were to contribute part of the troops to the organization’s armed force. But it is above all neighboring Nigeria – it has the largest armed service in the region with 220,000 soldiers – which can provide the bulk of the contingent.
Especially since its president, Bola Tinubu, is also president of ECOWAS and plays his all after promising to put an end to the contagion of coups in the sub-region. Of course, not all of its soldiers would be deployed, as Nigeria is already dealing with its own internal security issues from jihadist groups. The Forum of Senators from the north of the country – which shares a 1,500 km border with Niger – also expressed concern about a “use of force before having exhausted all diplomatic channels”.
Political pressure increased on Saturday by the opposition Coalition of Nigerian United Political Parties denouncing a military project “irresponsible. Nigeria cannot afford to waste its dwindling resources and the precious lives of our soldiers”. On Saturday, the Senate officially condemned the putsch but without deciding whether to send armed forces and instead urged President Bola Tinubu “to intensify negotiations with the putschists by again sending a high-level delegation to Niamey”.
The country’s Constitution provides that its security forces cannot be deployed to fight in a foreign country without the prior approval of the Senate. Bola Tinubu can however do without it in the case of a “imminent risk or danger” for national security.
An intervention decried by Algeria
Chad and Algeria, non-members of ECOWAS, have also positioned themselves for the continuation of negotiations. Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune rejected the idea of military intervention. He sees it “a direct threat to Algeria”, which shares nearly 1,000 km of border with Niger. In the event of an intervention, “the whole Sahel will be set ablaze”at-il have you.
Mali and Burkina Faso, allies of the Nigerian CNSP putschists, described the possible intervention as ” declaration of war “ against them. In Niamey, the Nigerien capital, the showdown continued and the CNSP support committee took over the roundabouts with “watch squads civilians, in the event of an attack. This weekend, some experts suggested the possibility of an extension of the ultimatum.
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