ABUJA: The President of Ivory Coast has said that the West African bloc ECOWAS has agreed on a military intervention in Niger as early as possible to restore the democratic government of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Alassane Ouattara, after attending an emergency ECOWAS summit on Niger crisis on Thursday in Abuja, Nigeria said the Chiefs of Staff of the African states will finalize the military action but overall, a consensus has been reached during the conference to start the action as soon as possible, AFP reported.
Earlier Thursday, the leaders of the bloc said that they would install a standby force against the military leaders of Niger who seized control of the country in a coup on July 26.
Ouattara said Ivory Coast would give a battalion of 850 to 1,100 men alongside troops from Nigeria and Benin, and other countries.
Ecowas Seeks Prompt Action in Niger to Restore Democratic Govt
He said that the African regional bloc is resolute to restore President Bazoum and his government.
Before leaving the summit in Abuja, Ouattara told media that ECOWAS had taken action in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau to restore the constitutional government.
He said that ECOWAS cannot accept the situation in Niger.
Meanwhile, Junta leaders who seized power in Niger have formed a new government.
According to the decree, Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine will head the 21-member government with top military officers.
Earlier, the African bloc ECOWAS had given a week to the coup leaders in Niger to restore the democratic government or face military intervention.
However, the efforts by ECOWAS and the United States to resolve the crisis in the country have failed to make any progress so far.
ECOWAS has already imposed trade and financial sanctions on Niger after the military coup in the country.
Earlier Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, had cautioned against the activities of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, adding that it can exploit the instability in Niger.
The neighboring country of Mali has formed a partnership with Moscow, raising fears over Russia’s growing influence in the area.
Niger has played a key role in Western strategies to fight and combat jihadist insurgencies with the support of France and the United States.
