By Politico staff writer
The West African sub-regional bloc ECOWAS on Thursday 10th August, 2023 ordered the activation of its Standby Force for a possible military intervention in Niger, where leaders of a coup have refused to return power to deposed President Mohamed Bazouma.
The decision was arrived at in Abuja, Nigeria where a summit of Heads of State in the region met on Thursday to discuss the crisis and in their communique gave the Junta up to Sunday to restore civilian rule by Sunday or risk military intervention.
‘’This is in readiness of possible deployment of ECOMOG to facilitate stabilization intervention as a path towards the restoration of constitutional/ democratic order!’’, according to the communiqué.
President Bola Tinubu of Nigeria and Chair of ECOWAS told the summit that “no option had been taken off the table”, including the use of force.
This latest summit of ECOWAS leaders happened four days after a deadline to return President Mohamed Bazoum to office or the junta face potential military intervention, expired.
Meanwhile, the coup leaders led by General Abdourahamane Tiani reportedly formed a new government on Wednesday.
The 21-member government is headed by Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine.
Secretary-General Antonio Guterres denounced "the deplorable living conditions that President Bazoum and his family are reported to be living under", according to a UN statement.
President Bazouma was toppled by Gen. Tiane who was Head of the Presidential Guard, on the 26th of July. Whilst ECOWAS and Western Powers condemned the coup, other junta-led countries in the region- Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea declared their support for the coup.
Burkina Faso and Mali have even indicated that any military intervention in Niger would mean a declaration of war on their countries. Algeria has also opposed the use of force to oust the junta.
Niger is fighting Jihadists, and one of the reasons given for the coup by the soldiers was the growing insecurity in the country. However, it has been reported that President Bazouma was about to replace Gen.Tiane at the top of soldiers guarding the presidency.
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