Summary:
- Ecawass announces 'D-Day' for potential military intervention in Niger to restore democracy.
- Decision made during two-day meeting of West African Army chiefs in Accra.
- Bloc emphasizes intervention as a last resort and commits resources for the mission.
- Firmer stance taken by Ecawass due to repeated coups in the region; credibility at stake.
- Defiant junta prompted discussions of potential forceful intervention.
- Risk of intervention exacerbating existing turmoil in the Sahel region.
West Africa's regional bloc, Ecawass, announced on Friday that a 'D-Day' has been established for a potential military intervention in Niger to restore democracy if diplomatic efforts prove unsuccessful. The decision was made during a two-day meeting of West African Army chiefs in Accra, Ghana, where discussions centered around the possibility of employing force in Niger. Ecawass emphasized that such action would only be taken as a last resort.
Abdu'l-Fatu'a Musa, the Ecawass commissioner for political affairs, peace, and security, declared that all Ecawass members present at the meeting had committed resources, equipment, and personnel for the intervention. While underscoring that a peaceful solution remained the preferred choice, Musa made it clear that the bloc would not engage in prolonged negotiations with the junta responsible for the coup. Notably, Ecawass has taken a firmer stance on the Niger coup compared to previous instances. This coup marks the seventh in the wider region within a span of three years, and the credibility of Ecawass is on the line. The bloc had previously stated its intolerance for any further unconstitutional seizures of power. Musa stated, 'We want to return to constitutional normalcy, and this Niger coup is one coup too many for the region. We are putting an end to it now.
The removal of Niger President Mohammed Buzum by military officers occurred three weeks ago, and despite calls from the United Nations, Ecawass, and other international bodies for his reinstatement, the junta has remained defiant. Any potential intervention carries the risk of exacerbating the ongoing turmoil in West Africa's Sahel region, which is already grappling with a longstanding Islamist insurgency and a worsening humanitarian crisis.