West African defence leaders, under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), have agreed upon a tentative date for potential military intervention in Niger, should diplomatic negotiations fail.
However, the specific date remains undisclosed.
ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Abdel-Fatau Musah, discussed the potential “D-Day” following a two-day summit in Ghana.
The focus was primarily on logistics and strategies regarding possible force in Niger, emphasizing that military action would be a final measure.
During a meeting in Ghana’s capital, Accra, ECOWAS troops expressed readiness to join a standby force aiming to reinstate democracy in Niger.
This follows a recent coup where generals detained President Mohamed Bazoum. All member countries, except those currently under military rule and Cape Verde, have shown support for this standby force initiative.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the two-day meeting, Musah as quoted by Reuters said “We are ready to go anytime the order is given.
“The D-Day is also decided.
“We’ve already agreed and fine-tuned what will be required for the intervention.”
Musah noted that the community was still seeking to engage with the junta peacefully, saying, “As we speak, we are still readying (a) mediation mission into the country, so we have not shut any door.”
On July 26, officers of the Presidential Guard arrested President Muhammed Bazoum and declared him deposed.
On July 30, ECOWAS, led by Nigerian Tinubu, decided on sanctions against the military personnel in Niger and gave a week ultimatum to the military junta to restore ousted Bazoum to office.
In addition to a one-week ultimatum to restore constitutional order and the suspension of financial transactions with Niger, ECOWAS decreed the freezing of “all service transactions, including energy transactions.”
On August 3, ECOWAS sent a three-man delegation to Niger to resolve the current political impasse in the country which proved abortive.
After the one-week ultimatum expired, West African leaders met on August 10 and approved a “standby force” to reinstate elected Bazoum.
