2023-08-11 09:04:00
Gathered for the second time in an extraordinary summit in Abuja on August 10, West African leaders ordered the deployment of military force to restore the constitutional order overthrown in Niger by putschists who carried out a coup against the President. Mohammad Bazoum.
No option is ruled out by the Community of West African States. While advocating a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Niger, ECOWAS is at the same time giving the green light to military intervention. It is the ECOWAS Standby Force which is thus activated.
The ECOWAS Chiefs of Defense Committee is due to meet in Ghana on Saturday for the operationalization of the armed expedition against the Nigerien putschists. The sub-regional organization is thus increasing the pressure following the failure of its first attempts to bend the junta in power since July 26.
Failed “diplomatic efforts”
7-day ultimatum set to restore ousted president was not acted upon when it expired. At the same time, two mediation missions were not successful; the first had left Niamey without having met the military in power and the second was not authorized to go to the country. This Thursday’s summit then noted “that all diplomatic efforts undertaken by ECOWAS to resolve the crisis have been rebuffed with defiance by the military leadership”.
Meanwhile, the National Council for the Safeguarding of the Homeland (CNSP) at the head of Niger is rolling out its agenda. After the appointment of a civilian Prime Minister, a government was formed with 6 portfolios assigned to officers, including Defense and Interior. Before that, the junta had warned ECOWAS and its supporters against any military intervention on Nigerien territory, of which it closed the airspace, as a protective measure.
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