NIAMEY: Pressure on the military leadership of a coup in Niger mounted Saturday on the eve of a West African alliance’s deadline for the army to restore constitutional order or face possible military interference.
The situation worsened in the former French colony after the military leaders removed the elected president Mohamed Bazoum in a coup on July 26.
The ECOWAS since then, is striving to find a peaceful resolution to reinstate constitutional order and resolve the crisis; however, they set a deadline of August 6, to launch a possible intervention in the West African state.
Pressure Increasing on Niger Coup Leaders as Deadline Approaching
The situation reached a standoff between the military junta and ECOWAS, with the latter adopting its tough stance yet following the ouster of President Mohamed Bazoum, marking the seventh coup in West and Central Africa since 2020.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the French foreign ministry said the future of Niger and the stability of the whole region is at stake. The development comes after French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna held talks with Niger’s leader, Ouhoumoudou Mahamadou in Paris.
ECOWAS military chiefs of staff have reached a plan for a possible military intervention to respond to the crisis in Niger.
ECOWAS wants diplomacy to succeed in Niger
ECOWAS commissioner Abdel-Fatau Musah in a statement, said the regional bloc wants diplomacy to succeed in Niger and a clear message has been given to the junta to reverse their unconstitutional act.
Niger has played a key role in Western strategies to fight and combat jihadist insurgencies with the support of France and the United States. There are reports that anti-French sentiment in the region is on the rise due to Russian involvement in the area while the presence of the Wagner mercenary group has also grown in the western part of the continent.
Moscow, on the other hand, has warned against military intervention from outside Niger.
French Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu has termed the coup an error of judgment that is against the interests of the people of Niger. Sebastien Lecornu expressed these remarks during an interview with AFP.
Mali and Burkina Faso, also ruled by military leaders have warned against any military intervention in Niger, adding that it would be an open declaration of war against them.
The democratically elected president of Niger Mohamed Bazoum has been confined to his official residence in Niamey since July 26.
