In a twist of event in the West African countries have given their approval for armed intervention in Niger following a coup, according to the president of Ivory Coast.
During a meeting of the Ecowas regional bloc, leaders discussed deploying a “ready” military force, although specifics about its size were not disclosed. Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu expressed that using force would only be considered as a last resort.
The military takeover in Niger happened on July 26. After the Ecowas meeting, Ivory Coast’s Alassane Ouattara emphasized that Ecowas had previously intervened in African nations to restore constitutional order. He stated that a similar situation in Niger cannot be accepted by Ecowas. Ouattara also mentioned that Ivory Coast would contribute a battalion of 850 to 1,100 soldiers, along with troops from Nigeria and Benin.
Omar Touray, the president of the Ecowas group, announced the decision to deploy the Ecowas standby force to reinstate constitutional order in Niger. However, specific details about the composition and actions of the force were not provided. Ecowas aims to prevent the junta from maintaining power during a transitional period, differentiating itself from the situations in Burkina Faso and Mali. Negotiations with the junta have proven challenging due to their unwillingness to directly engage with Ecowas.
Deposed President Mohamed Bazoum’s well-being has raised concerns from the US and UN. He has been under house arrest for over two weeks. Ahead of the meeting, northern Nigerian Muslim clerics advised President Tinubu against using force to remove the coup leaders. However, President Tinubu stated that all options, including force as a last resort, remain on the table. He stressed the importance of taking action, as no one else would do it on their behalf.
The coup leaders have warned of their readiness to defend against any intervention. Ecowas initially set a deadline for the Niger junta to reinstate the democratically-elected government by the past Sunday, but this was ignored. Instead, the military leaders established a new ruling cabinet. Notably, both the US and France have military bases in Niger, which have been utilized to combat jihadist groups in the broader Sahel region. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested that Russia’s Wagner mercenary group might be capitalizing on the instability in Niger.
