The Defence Chiefs of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) ended their two-day meeting in Accra, Ghana, yesterday, with an agreement on a “D-day” for a possible military intervention to restore civil rule in Niger Republic if diplomatic efforts fail.
This is coming on the heels of the United Nations reaction to Niger’s military junta threat to prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for high treason, saying “rule-by-gun has no place in today’s world.”
Soldiers from the Presidential Guard had on July 26 deposed President Bazoum, thus truncating the constitutional political leadership in the West African country. Two days later, the soldiers named General Abdourahamane Tchiani as the new leader of the country, with Tchiani warning against any foreign military intervention.
The West African army chiefs decided to meet in Ghana (Thursday and Friday) to hatch out the logistics and strategy for a possible use of force in Niger that ECOWAS has said would be a last resort.
Speaking yesterday after the Defence Chiefs’ meeting, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, said the “D-Day” for the military intervention in Niger Republic had been agreed, without disclosing the exact date.
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