ECOWAS Set Date For Military Intervention In Niger

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has agreed on a schedule for probable military intervention in Niger that has not been made public.

Abdel-Fatau Musah, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, made the announcement at the conclusion of a meeting of West African army chiefs in Accra on Friday, August 18, where they were coordinating a possible armed intervention aimed at reversing the coup in Niger if diplomatic options failed.

He said, “We’ve already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention.

“All member states of ECOWAS present here today have all committed elements, they have committed their own equipment, they have committed their own resources to undertake this mission, so I tell you we are ready to go anytime the order is given.”

The majority of the bloc’s 15 member states, with the exception of countries under military control – Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea – and Cape Verde, are eager to contribute to the joint force.

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“The D-day is also decided,” Musah added.

While “all options are on the table,” including mediation and punishments, he emphasized that ECOWAS will not engage in “endless dialogue” and insists on restoring constitutional order in Niger.

“We want to get back to constitutional normalcy, and the decision is that the coup in Niger is one coup too many for the region, and we are putting a stop to it at this time, and we are drawing the line in the sand.”

In addition, the United Nations (UN) has encouraged Niger’s military authorities to restore constitutional order as soon as possible.

In a statement issued, Spokeswoman for UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani, said, “The people have already been through so much hardship over the years, now, the very people they elected to build a pathway to end their destitution have been removed by force against the constitutional order and detained by the coup leaders. They must be released at once and democracy restored.”

On July 30, ECOWAS gave Niger’s military authority one week to restore Bazoum or face force, but the deadline passed without action.