The West African Community of States ECOWAS is “immediately” assembling a force for a possible deployment in Niger. In principle, all options are kept open, including the use of force, it said on Thursday after the consultation.
“No option is taken off the table. So is the use of force – as a last resort,” Nigerian President Bola Tinubu said. Constitutional order in the West African country must be restored, said ECOWAS Commission Chairman Omar Touray. However, peaceful means would take precedence.
Several international attempts to find a diplomatic solution have failed in recent days. As reported, the junta has already presented a new government, suggesting it wants to impose its own agenda.
Speculations about internal power struggles
On July 26, the Presidential Guard under General Abdourahamane Tiani arrested the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum at his residence for wanting to replace Tiani at the head of the elite unit. As a result, there was initially speculation of an internal power struggle. Eventually, however, other branches of the armed forces joined the coup, declaring “the end of the regime” and dissolving all constitutional institutions. Tiani took over.
ECOWAS originally gave the junta one week to reinstate President Bazoum and restore constitutional order. This deadline has already passed on Sunday evening. As a precaution, the military junta ordered the airspace over Niger to be closed. Plagued by hunger and violence, the Sahel zone is one of the poorest regions in the world. A military conflict would further destabilize the situation.
Source: Krone
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