State television in Niger said that officers from the chiefs of staff of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger held a meeting in the capital, Niamey, as part of efforts to confront the possible military intervention of the countries of the West African Group (ECOWAS) in Niger.
The television broadcast pictures of warplanes that it said were from Mali and Burkina Faso, which were deployed in Niger, in implementation of the two countries’ pledges to stand by Niamey, in response to any possible military intervention by the ECOWAS group.
These developments came after the ECOWAS group announced – at the end of the meetings of its armies’ leaders in the Ghanaian capital, Accra – that it had agreed on a plan and date for possible military intervention in Niger, but made it clear that it would not enter into an avoidable war.
For two days, the army leaders discussed ways to restore the ousted president, Mohamed Bazoum, to power in Niger after he was overthrown by a coup on July 26, stressing their readiness to intervene militarily if diplomatic efforts fail.
Crawl day
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Abdel Fattah Moussa said, “We are ready to go at any time when the order is given. The day of the march has also been set, but we will not disclose it.”
Moussa added that the group is ready to intervene in Niger whenever the order is given, and continued, “The military option is not our preferred option, but we are forced to do so because of the intransigence of the military council in Niger.”
He stressed that all member states of the group provided the necessary resources to implement the process, stressing that any intervention in Niger would not be a declaration of war against it, and would be short-term and aimed at restoring constitutional order.
Moussa stressed that ECOWAS “will not enter into a war that can be avoided,” and that the military option can be withdrawn, noting that the group discussed the potential humanitarian problems of any military intervention in Niger.
diplomatic efforts
At a time when diplomatic efforts continue, European Council President Charles Michel confirmed – in contact with Nigerian President Paula Tinubu – that the European Union will not recognize the powers resulting from the coup in Niger, and that the democratically elected President Bazoum remains the legitimate president.
For his part, the Nigerian president warned of “serious consequences” if Bazoum’s health deteriorated, and said, “The conditions of President Bazoum’s detention are deteriorating, and any further deterioration in his health will lead to serious consequences.”
Bazoum has been detained with his family members in the official presidential residence since the July 26 coup, and the coup leaders confirmed that he was being treated well, and that his doctor was visiting him, but they announced that they intended to try him on charges of high treason and undermining the country’s security.
For his part, Leonardo Simao, Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel, said that he met with the Prime Minister-designate of the coup leaders in Niger, Muhammad al-Amin al-Zein, in the context of searching for practical ways to help Niger out of the crisis.
Simao added – at the end of his meeting with Prime Minister Al-Amin Al-Zein and two members of the military council – that the aim of this meeting was to discuss a way to ensure Niger’s rapid return to normal constitutional status.
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2023-08-19 01:31:05
