ACCRA, Ghana/NIAMEY, Niger: West Africa’s ECOWAS bloc plans a military action in Niger if diplomatic efforts to reverse a coup there fail, a senior official told army chiefs meeting in Accara, capital of Ghana on Thursday.
Niger’s military officers ousted President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26 and defied calls from the United Nations, ECOWAS and Western powers to reinstate him, prompting West African heads of state to order the assembly of emergency forces.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel-Fatau Musah stated that there should be no doubt that if all else fails, the brave forces of West Africa…are ready to answer the call to duty.
The official told the assembled defence chiefs from member nations, citing past ECOWAS deployments in Gambia, Liberia and elsewhere as examples of preparedness. He asked all present for restoration of the constitutional order by all available means.
Niger is of strategic importance as foreign troops are battling with Islamic militants in the Sahel region and besides that, it has uranium and oil reserves.
West fears that Niger will follow Mali, where the military government threw out French troops and invited mercenaries from Russia’s Wagner group. It is interesting to note the Russian Wagner Group has welcomed the change in Niger.
In Niger’s capital Niamey, where large crowds took part in protests against ECOWAS and in favour of the coup leaders, residents rejected the idea of outside intervention to restore an elected president and civilian rule.
Radio engineer Omar Yaye shared his opinion that he is not afraid as he has a belief that the armed forces are capable and they will do the best for the country.
He criticised ECOWAS for being manipulated by foreign powers which have an agenda. The reaction from France after the coup and ECOWAS backed by West suggests there is more to it that meets the eye.
