The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) reiterated its intention to leave open all options for resolving the crisis in Niger, while Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara revealed that ECOWAS had given the green light for military action to begin “as soon as possible”.
ECOWAS leaders – in a statement at the conclusion of their summit in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Thursday – stressed their firm support for a diplomatic solution to the crisis in Niger.
The statement condemned the “coup d’état and the continued arrest of President Mohamed Bazoum,” adding that “all options available to Niger are on the table, including the use of force as a last resort,” and called for an “immediate start to ECOWAS Reserve Forces”.
Meanwhile, the statement confirmed that ECOWAS would take “measures against obstacles to the restoration of constitutional order in Niger, including closing borders and freezing assets” and called on the African Union to support all ECOWAS decisions on Niger.
ECOWAS – a group of 15 countries – has been working to end a series of military coups witnessed by four of its member states three years ago.
Niger .. Al Jazeera monitors the situation of the people under the coup leader
green light
Meanwhile, Agence France-Presse quoted Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara as saying that ECOWAS supports military intervention in Niger as soon as possible.
He added, “The chiefs of staff will have other meetings to fine-tune the details, but they have the approval of the meeting of national leaders to start the process as soon as possible.”
Alassane Ouattara said Ivory Coast would send a “battalion” of 850 to 1,100 members, notably Nigeria and Benin, and that “other countries” would also participate in the intervention force.
“The defectors can decide to leave tomorrow morning, there will be no military intervention, everything is up to them,” he stressed, adding, “We are determined to get President Bazum back to work.”
It is noteworthy that the threat of force was first threatened during the summit of the regional organization on 30 July, when ECOWAS gave the coup leaders seven days to bring President Bazoum, who was overthrown on 26 of the same month, to power, but due to the deadline on Sunday The date has passed, and the threat has not taken effect.
The Associated Press, citing Western officials, reported that the coup leaders threatened to kill the detained president if neighboring countries intervened militarily.
In a statement to Al Jazeera, USAID Administrator Samantha Power said the diplomatic effort was urgently needed, adding that ECOWAS was working to restore constitutional order in Niger.
Samantha Power stresses that the army’s grip on power in Niger makes aid impossible.
Supporters of the self-proclaimed National Council for the Defense of the Homeland have staged a demonstration in Niger to condemn ECOWAS’ decision to target the coup leader.
The demonstrators expressed their rejection of France’s continued denial of its independence and freedom.
What options does the ECOWAS have in response to the coup in Niger?
Support from France and the United States
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Thursday expressed support for ECOWAS’ efforts in Niger, but did not explicitly support its decision to intervene militarily to restore constitutional order.
“ECOWAS – an organization of West African states – has an important role to play in clarifying the need to restore constitutional order, and we strongly support its leadership and efforts in this regard,” Blinken said.
In this context, France expressed its “full support for all decisions adopted by the ECOWAS summit in Niger”, including the deployment of the ECOWAS “standby force” to restore constitutional order.
Paris again “strongly condemns the ongoing coup in Niger and the detention of President (Mohamed) Bazoum and his family,” the French foreign ministry said in a statement.
The possibility of military intervention in Niger sparked internal disputes within ECOWAS. Algeria said it categorically rejected any military intervention and demanded the restoration of the country’s constitutional legitimacy.
On the other hand, at the same time as the start of the summit, Niger’s coup leader announced the appointment of a new government on Thursday.
The new prime minister, Ali Amin Zain (civilian), will head the 21-member government, while two generals from the new ruling military council will lead defense and home affairs.
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2023-08-11 03:54:13
